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St.  Boniface  Church,  1865 


THE  ANNALS 

of 

ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

1862-1926 


Compiled  and  Edited  by 

REV.  F.  L.  KALVELAGE 

CURATE  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  CHURCH 

CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS 


His  Eminence  George  Cardinal  Mundelem 


,  )      ^ 


PREFACE 

ne  day,  rather  accidentally,  the  writer  came 
in  possession  of  an  old  record  book  in  which 
it  was  stated  that  some  thirty  children  from 
St.  Boniface  School  had  entered  the  religious 
life.  This  appeared  to  him  a  large  number 
of  vocations  from  one  school.  But  after 
consideration  and  inquiry  the  number  of 
vocations  grew  in  no  less  proportions  than 
the  wonderment.  It  -was  indeed  the  great  number  of  voca' 
tions  that  actuated  the  writer  to  delve  admiringly  into  the 
history  of  St.  Boniface  Parish  in  an  effort  to  find  cause  for 
God's  great  selection  of  chosen  servants. 

God's  way,  of  course,  is  not  our  way.  Yet  the  writer  is 
presumptious  enough  to  state  that  "God's  call  of  the  chil' 
dren"  is  an  earthly  reward  to  their  good  and  pious  parents. 
These  parents  found  deeper  meaning  than  others  appeared  to 
have  found  in  those  words  of  our  Lord:  "What  doth  it 
profit  a  man  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world  and  lose  his 
soul."  The  writer  found  out  that  they  preeminently  sup' 
ported  the  contention  of  the  Catholic  Church  with  regard 
to  religious  education.  Herein  appears  to  lie  the  secret  of  the 
religious  calling,  together  with  the  sacrifice  the  parishioners 
of  St.  Boniface  endured  in  the  erection  of  such  a  beautiful 
temple  of  God. 

Having  gathered  a  considerable  mass  of  evident  practical 
Catholicity  the  writer  reflected  as  to  the  worth  of  that  mat' 
ter  in  book  form.  Would  it  be  possible  for  any  one  to  derive 
a  benefit  from  such  a  course  of  action?    This  question  came 


VI 


PREFACE 


again  and  again  before  his  mind.  Until,  finally,  he  convinced 
himself  the  book  would  have  its  merits.  There  are  the  early 
settlers  who  built  up  parochial  education  despite  many  handi- 
caps; there  are  the  virtues  of  patience  and  sacrifice  exempli- 
fied during  the  course  of  building  construction;  there  is  the 
grand  finale  of  virtuous  living  over  seventy  religious  voca- 
tions.   Is  all  this  worth  writing  about? 

Naturally,  of  course,  the  compilation  of  a  book  of  such 
historical  value  requires  the  assistance  of  all  those  who  have 
in  their  possession  any  of  the  parish  data.  It  must  be  stated 
that  all  credit  for  the  completeness  of  this  volume  should  go 
to  those  who  have  given  freely  of  their  time  and  information. 
The  writer  wishes  to  express  his  sincerest  thanks  to  the  fol- 
lowing who  have  made  possible  the  editing  of  this  volume: 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Edward  F.  Hoban;  Msgr.  F.  A.  Rempe: 
Msgr.  Peter  Biermann;  Franciscan  Fathers  of  Quincy,  111.: 
Rev.  George  Eisenbacher;  Rev.  Arthur  Terlecke;  Rev.  John 
Sprengel:  Rev.  Wm.  Mockenhaupt;  Rev.  Michael  Klasen: 
Rev.  C.  A.  Rempe,  who  wrote  up  the  data  of  Father  Venn, 
Father  Evers  and  of  himself;  Father  Joseph  Gehrig  who  as- 
sisted in  the  tedious  work  of  proof  reading,  and  the  Fran- 
ciscan Nuns  of  Joliet.  Among  the  laity  who  have  given  gen- 
erously of  their  service  we  mention:  Mrs.  Anna  Weide- 
mann,  Mr.  Jerry  Murphy,  Miss  Clotilda  Scholl,  Mr.  Charles 
P.  Koob,  the  Misses  Helen  and  Loretta  Schommer,  Mrs. 
Katherine  Golly,  Mrs.  Josephine  Sass,  Mr.  Leo  Behrendt, 
Mr.  Nicholas  Waterloo,  Jr.,  Mrs.  F.  Grzegowski,  the  Kor- 
thals  family,  Mr.  Henry  Brod,  Miss  Mary  C.  Mueller,  Mrs. 
Susan  Stamm,  Mr.  August  Melka,  Mrs.  Caroline  Kaufman, 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Shay,  Miss  Louise  Weseman,  Mrs.  A.  H.  Ritt- 
hamel,  Mrs.  Margaret  Hart,  Mrs.  Ottilia  Frey,  Mr.  Andrew 
Ribandt,  Mr.   Bernhard  Mayer,  Mr.  Martin  Koop,  Mrs. 


PREFACE  wii 

Joseph  Kotlengar,  the  Kristan  sisters,  Mr.  Chris  J.  Manheim, 
Mr.  John  Behrendt,  Mrs.  Magdeline  Laux,  Mrs.  Johann 
Mathia,  Mr.  John  A.  Fensterle,  Mrs.  John  Moeller,  Mr. 
Frank  Girsch,  Miss  Rose  Kiessling,  Mrs.  Harriet  Frank,  Mr. 
N.  C.  Schommer,  Mrs.  Mary  Rauscher,  Mr.  Leo  Schuene- 
man,  Mr.  George  S.  Stegmaier,  Mrs.  A.  Rishe,  Mrs.  Sophie 
Burkhartsmeier,  Mr.  J.  Dunnebacke,  Mr.  N.  A.  Schommer, 
Mrs.  Peter  Kalteux,  Miss  Julia  Pawletzki,  Mrs.  Marie  Hesser, 
Mr.  Alex  Kahler,  Mr.  W.  H.  Nelles,  Mr.  O.  P.  Jaeger,  Mr. 
Albert  Reisel,  Mr.  John  Puets,  Mr.  Joseph  Walkowiak,  Mr. 
Joseph  Cetner,  Mr.  Anthony  Schlieben,  Mr.  Andrew  Kot- 
lare,  Mrs.  Josephine  Hartwig,  Miss  Catherine  Klingenmaier, 
Mr.  Michael  Gauer,  Mr.  Henry  Venn,  Mr.  Chas.  Venn,  Dr. 
Carl  Venn,  Mrs.  Mary  Welch. 

The  writer  avails  himself  of  this  opportunity  to  express 
his  lasting  gratitude  to  all  the  above  mentioned  for  their 
valuable  assistance.  They  realised  that  time  and  work  create 
value!  Great  work  crowded  within  sixty  years  of  time  has 
been  recorded  in  this  book.  To  the  heroes  and  heroines  of 
yesterday  they  desired  to  pay  tribute.  Their  fondest  hope 
was  that  this  record  should  be  for  the  edification  of  the  pres- 
ent and  future  generations.  The  writer  trusts  their  hope, 
which  he  has  identified  as  his  purpose,  will  be  realised. 

REV.  F.  L.  KALVELAGE. 
Feast  of  St.  Boniface  June  5th,  1926. 


Right  Reverend  Bishop  Edward  F.  Hoban,  D.D. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Preface  v 

Prologue xi 

Father  Phillip  Albrecht 1 

Father  James  Marshall 21 

Father  Clement  Venn 31 

Father  Albert  Evers 57 

Appendix  to  Father  Albert  Evers 87 

Father  C.  A.  Rempe 101 

The  Booster  Club 121 

St.  Boniface  Church  Choir 124 

St.  Boniface  School 127 

Our  Children  in  Religion 163 

Married  Ladies"  Sodality 193 

St.  Vincent  DePaul  Society 197 

Holy  Name  Society 199 

The  Young  Ladies1  Sodality 205 

St.  Raphael  Young  Men's  Sodality 215 

Children  of  Mary 233 

Diamond  Jubilee  Program 239 


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THE  PROLOGUE 


hen  the  curtain  is  drawn  aside,  the  scene 
opened  to  our  vision  makes  its  first  impress 
of  wonderment  or  disappointment.  We  will 
gasp  because  the  beauty  so  closely  imitative 
of  nature  lies  in  access  of  our  sense  of  per- 
ception.  Climatic  conditions  being  totally 
disregarded,  it  appears  as  though  nature  be- 
comes subservient  to  the  mandates  of  man. 
Without  this  picturesque  loveliness  which  makes  it  appeal 
to  the  senses  of  man,  the  enactment  of  a  drama  would  not 
develop  interest  and  bring  about  applause  of  the  most  gifted 
and  talented  actor.  On  the  other  hand,  the  most  heart- 
stirring  plot  loses  its  intensity  if  not  assisted  by  a  scene  com- 
patible with  the  dignity  of  the  story. 

Just  for  that  reason  it  appears  necessary  to  lay  the  scene  in 
readiness  so  that  the  characters  making  their  debut  in  the 
course  of  the  parish  history  which  follows  may  not  be  left 
without  the  confidence  which  nature's  presence  gives  to  the 
debutant;  as  well  as  the  property  of  satisfaction  it  is  wont  to 
impress  upon  the  audience.  It  is,  indeed,  necessary  to  know 
that  the  western  banks  of  the  Chicago  River  offered  in  the 
early  6CTs  a  natural  beauty  akin  to  the  edging  along  Jupiter 
Terrace.  The  sectional  progress  was  marked  by  man-power 
speed  of  those  days.  Today  with  the  multitudinous  machinery 
no  comparison  can  be  made  with  the  days  of  yesterday.  And 
yet,  when  the  subject  of  western  development  is  studied 
closely,  we  are  amazed  at  the  success. 

From  the  western  bank  of  the  Chicago  River,  to  the  city 


xii  THE  PROLOGUE 

limits  marked  by  the  present  Ashland  Avenue  there  was  a 
vast  expanse  of  territory  sparingly  covered  by  small  frame 
buildings.  In  this  area  were  found  twenty  to  twenty  five 
families  of  Catholic  faith.  These  families  had  migrated  into 
this  country  from  Germany.  Their  friends  and  relatives  were 
arriving  in  this  country,  but  only  few  at  a  time,  so  they  had 
to  make  new  associations  and  acquaintances.  After  they  had 
grown  to  know  one  another  they  began  to  bespeak  the  secrets 
of  their  heart  with  each  other. 

St.  Joseph's  Church  was  a  distance  of  two  miles  away  with 
the  river  dividing  its  boundary.  Travel  was  difficult  in  those 
days.  Most  of  the  people  walked  to  the  river's  bank  and 
then  ferried  the  stream.  This  mode  of  reaching  the  place  of 
worship  was  very  inconvenient.  It  necessitated  punctuality, 
for  the  ferry  would  leave  on  schedule,  and  the  schedule  would 
at  times  transport  its  passengers  to  the  east  side  of  the  river 
too  early,  on  time,  or  too  late  for  services.  St.  Joseph's 
Church  was  then  located  on  Superior  and  Cass  Streets.  At 
this  corner  a  large  apartment  building  has  now  been  erected, 
known  as  the  Benedictine  flats. 

The  sparsely  settled  district  west  of  the  Chicago  River 
was,  in  the  early  days,  a  veritable  swamp.  The  neighbor' 
hood  today  is  marked  by  the  elevation  of  the  streets  some 
ten  to  fifteen  feet  above  the  ground  floor  of  homes.  Side 
walks  in  time  became  level  with  the  streets,  but  early  in  the 
history  of  this  section  the  acclivous  and  declivous  construe 
tion  of  board  walks  was  indeed  very  evident  and  made  walk- 
ing  a  difficult  and  strenuous  exercise. 

The  construction  at  that  time  permitted  the  walks  to  roof 
the  space  used  for  the  storage  of  wood  and  coal.  In  the  in" 
stance  of  St.  Boniface  parish  the  walks  sheltered  the  privy 
of  the  school  and  that,  as  late  as  1893.     Naturally,  many 


THE  PROLOGUE  xm 

rodents  were  harbored  by  such  arrangements.  There  was 
plenty  of  vacant  space  in  those  days,  but  it  seemed  that  all 
owners  narrowed  themselves  to  the  utilisation  of  every  inch 
of  space. 

Elevation  of  the  streets  caused  many  a  flood.  Then,  too, 
the  growth  of  the  neighborhood  caused  the  sewerage  sys- 
tem to  become  quickly  incompatible  with  conditions.  The 
pipes  strung  beneath  the  ground  to  take  care  of  the  overflow 
from  rains  were  only  half  the  size  they  should  have  been,  and 
consequently  floods  would  be  the  outcome. 

The  streets  were  for  a  time,  only  dirt  roads.  Later,  we 
had  the  plank  roads,  such  as  Milwaukee  Avenue,  and  that, 
planked  on  one  side  of  the  street  only.  A  toll  gate  was  to  be 
found  on  Elston  at  Milwaukee  Avenue.  When  the  terri- 
tory grew,  the  Elston  Avenue  toll  gate  was  abandoned,  but 
another  was  established  at  Western  and  Milwaukee  Avenues. 
Finally,  however,  with  the  growth  of  the  neighborhood  by 
leaps  and  bounds,  this  system  of  collecting  revenue  was 
entirely  abandoned. 

St.  Boniface  Church  was  the  first  founded  in  this  near  west 
vicinity.  So  we  can  well  visualize  the  parish  growth  from 
twenty-five  families  in  1865  to  upwards  of  nine  hundred 
families  in  1893.  Parishioners  travelled  afar  to  their  church. 
Catherine  Roden,  a  mother  of  Mrs.  Felix  Rosenberger 
Schommer  walked  from  her  place  of  work,  a  rooming  house, 
on  Randolph  at  Clinton  Streets,  through  the  prairies  to  St. 
Boniface  Church.  A  rather  long  walk,  but  it  bespeaks  the 
fervor  of  those  early  settlers.  Today,  St.  Boniface  Church 
has  given  one  or  more  descendants  of  her  children  to  almost 
every  parish  in  the  city  of  Chicago.  Indeed,  she  accom- 
plished the  spread  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  on  earth. 

Mention  of  one  more  important  detail  must  be  made  in 


XIV 


THE  PROLOGUE 


this  prologue.  The  people  were  a  rural  type  with  attributes 
of  honesty  and  industry  as  possessives.  There  were  no  thefts. 
Doors  and  windows  need  not  necessarily  be  latched.  Chairs 
and  rockers  were  left  without  fear  of  theft  upon  the  veranda 
the  entire  night.  But,  of  course,  city  life  does  not  nurture 
such  mode  of  living.  When,  in  after  years,  the  influx  into 
the  neighborhood  greatly  increased  the  statistics,  the  family 
spirit  no  longer  could  prevail  and,  not  within  touch  of  every 
one,  permitted  a  number  to  sidetrack  the  issue  of  their  fore 
fathers  and  the  retainment  at  any  cost  of  the  ideal.  Every 
one  becomes  lax  who  is  not  guided.  Guidance  is  akin  to  com' 
petition.  For  the  business  man,  competition  is  really  the  initi' 
ative  behind  the  acquiring  of  qualities  that  make  for  success. 
In  youth,  it  is  guidance.  The  stage  is  set  now — let  the  cur 
tain  rise. 


FATHER  PHILLIP  ALBRECHT 

here  is  registered  in  the  mind  of  the  author 
a  doubt  as  to  whether  the  chapter  heading 
given  above  should  not  be  changed  to  read: 
"Rev.  Ludwig  M.  Fink,  O.S.B."  The  ordi- 
nary  references  all  refer  to  Father  Albrecht 
as  the  first  pastor  of  St.  Boniface  Church. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  documentary  evidence 
points  out  quite  unmistakably  to  the  estab- 
lishing of  a  mission  on  Carpenter  Street  at  Chicago  Avenue 
as  early  as  1862. 

Owing  to  the  hardship  of  travel  in  those  early  days,  the 
Benedictine  Fathers  of  St.  Joseph's  Church,  as  an  accommo- 
dation to  their  parishioners  on  the  western  banks  of  the  Chi- 
cago River,  established  in  the  year  sixty-two  a  small  frame 
building.  This  one  story  frame  structure  was  really  a  com- 
bination building.  It  was  because  of  its  rolling  partitions  or 
Venetian  blinds,  which  were  a  marvelous  convenience  easily 
operated,  a  church  and  school.  The  people  of  those  days 
referred  to  it  as  the  "little  white  school  house' '  because  it  was 
the  only  seat  of  learning  in  the  western  section  of  the  city. 

The  Benedictine  Fathers  as  aforesaid  established  this  little 
mission  in  the  year  1862.  Father  Ludwig  Fink,  O.S.B.,  was 
in  charge,  and  Nicholas  Dreher  of  St.  Joseph's  School  was 
the  first  teacher.  These  two  men,  because  of  their  promi- 
nence in  the  affairs  of  spreading  the  kingdom  of  God  on 
earth,  ought  to  be  dedicated  a  chapter  in  this  book;  but  there 
are  so  many  of  the  early  settlers  who  have  risen  to  promi- 
nence in  the  work  of  their  heavenly  Father  that,  if  each  were 


Right  Reverend  Ludwig  M.  Fink,  O-S.B. 


FATHER  PHILLIP  ALBRECHT  3 

accorded  their  due,  this  book  would  be  a  biography  of  men 
instead  of  the  Annals  of  St.  Boniface  Parish. 

We  dare  not,  however,  consider  the  first  pastor  of  St. 
Boniface  Church  too  sparingly,  for  Father  Fink  rose  from 
chaplain  of  the  mission  of  St.  Boniface  to  coadjutor  bishop 
of  Leavenworth,  Kansas.  Just  a  brief  survey  of  the  life  of 
Father  Fink  will  no  doubt  be  appreciated.  Father  Ludwig 
Fink  was  born  July  12th,  1834,  at  Triftersberg,  Bavaria. 
Eighteen  years  after  his  birth,  young  Ludwig  Fink  braved 
the  difficulties  of  life,  and  on  his  own  initiative,  bridged  that 
great  body  of  water — the  Atlantic — and  came  to  America. 
It  was  not  an  easy  matter,  but  anyone  who  ever  won  accomp- 
lishment as  a  credit  had  to  face  the  music,  even  though  hap 
mony  was  lacking.  After  only  a  short  stay  on  the  continent 
he  felt  the  call  to  leadership  in  God's  army;  and,  good  soldier 
as  he  was,  he  obeyed  the  summons  immediately  entering  the 
Benedictine  Abbey  of  St.  Vincent,  Pennsylvania.  Five  years 
after  his  entrance  into  the  States  on  May  27th,  1857,  he  was 
ordained  to  the  priesthood.  In  1 86 1 ,  he  received  his  appoint- 
ment to  St.  Joseph's  Church,  Chicago,  Illinois.  A  year  in  that 
capacity  sufficed  for  Father  Fink  to  realize  the  importance 
of  establishing  a  mission  on  the  West  Side  of  Chicago. 
Zealous  for  the  souls  of  men  he  went  about  the  work  in  the 
year  1862  and  founded  the  "little  white  school  house. "  Ever 
active  in  his  duties,  we  can  understand  why  in  1868  he  was 
appointed  abbot  of  St.  Benedictine  Abbey,  Atchison,  Kan- 
sas. Only  two  years  later,  in  the  year  1870,  he  was  appointed 
to  the  coadjutorship  of  Leavenworth,  Kansas.  The  people  of 
St.  Joseph's  Church  were  jubilant  and  with  them  the  parish- 
ioners of  St.  Boniface  Church,  for  Bishop  Fink  had  really 
founded  St.  Boniface  Church.  He  was  the  ideal  of  the 
people — almost  worshipped  for  his  speedy  advancements. 


'Teacher  Dreher11  in  1912 


FATHER  PHILLIP  ALBRECHT  5 

At  thirtysix  years  he  won  recognition  from  the  Prince  of 
the  Church  for  the  untiring  efforts  which  made  him  a  known 
organiser  here  and  abroad.  Emphasis  must  be  placed  on  this 
outstanding  fact  that  his  consecration  to  the  bishopric  was 
just  eighteen  years  after  he  arrived  in  the  land  of  the  free  and 
home  of  the  brave.  Well  might  his  former  flock  rejoice  for 
their  fortune  of  having  so  talented  a  leader.  Their  great 
demonstration  of  appreciation  came  when  they  presented 
him  with  his  complete  episcopal  outfit.  His  consecration 
occurred  at  St.  Joseph's  Church,  Bishop  Foley  officiating. 

Nicholas  Dreher  was  a  greatly  esteemed  character  and  one 
who  deserves  a  tribute  to  his  abiding  faith  and  unfailing  zeal. 
He  devoted  a  half  century  to  the  great  cause  of  Catholic 
education.  Mr.  Dreher  was  born  near  St.  Wendel,  in  the 
Rhineland,  Germany,  in  1844.  But  as  early  as  1848  he  came 
to  America  with  his  parents,  who  settled  on  the  west  side  of 
Chicago.  At  the  age  of  six,  he  attended  St.  Peter's  School, 
then  at  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Wells  Streets,  and 
later  went  to  the  newly  organized  school  of  St.  Francis'  par' 
ish.  After  his  first  Holy  Communion  he  went  to  the  Foster 
School  for  a  short  time,  until  the  Jesuit  Fathers  opened  a 
school  which  he  attended  until  he  began  his  teaching  career 
in  1862,  in  Blackpartridge,  Woodford  County,  Illinois. 

Later  in  the  same  year  he  became  the  first  teacher  for  the 
children  of  the  West  Side  in  the  newly  opened  branch  school 
of  St.  Joseph's,  on  the  corner  of  Chicago  Avenue  and  Cap 
penter  Street.  After  two  years  he  was  transferred  to  St. 
Joseph's  School,  Chicago  Avenue  and  Cass  Street,  where  he 
remained  until  1867.  After  a  short  absence  in  Collegeville, 
Minnesota,  Mr.  Dreher  taught  at  St.  Peter's  School,  Clark 
and  Polk  Streets,  until  the  great  fire  in  1871. 

After  this  time  he  was  persuaded  by  Father  Fischer,  pastor 


6  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

of  St.  Peter's  and  vicar  general  of  the  diocese,  to  open  a 
school  and  assist  in  the  organization  of  a  parish  in  Pekin, 
Illinois.  When  his  work  was  finished  there,  he  returned  to 
Chicago  and  taught  higher  grades  in  St.  Peter's  School  until 
the  new  St.  Joseph's  School,  Hill  and  Orleans  Streets,  was 
built,  where  he  then  took  charge  of  the  higher  grades  and 
taught  for  many  years  up  to  the  time  of  his  golden  jubilee 
in  1912. 

This  is  the  outline  of  the  events  of  "teacher  Dreher's"  life, 
indicating  his  connections  with  the  Catholic  parochial  his' 
tory  of  Chicago;  but  it  cannot  convey  that  spirit  in  his  life, 
the  intense  love  for  Catholic  youth,  and  his  zeal  in  forming 
it  into  a  noble  manhood.  This  it  was  that  shaped  the  meas- 
ure of  his  own  incalculable  service  and  won  for  him  the  title 
of  "Friend,  Benefactor  and  Protector  of  Youth/ '  This  made 
him  an  influence  in  the  lives  of  his  pupils,  long  after  they 
had  left  their  benches  at  school,  and  kept  him  surrounded  by 
his  "boys,"  young  and  old,  long  after  the  teaching  days 
were  over. 

Shortly  after  "teacher  Dreher"  had  been  transferred  from 
the  West  Side  mission  to  St.  Joseph's  School,  the  parishioners 
of  the  mission  urged  the  Benedictine  Fathers  to  establish  a 
church  that  would  meet  the  demands.  The  West  Side  dis' 
trict  of  Chicago  had  become  in  two  years  quite  a  settlement 
due  unmistakably  to  the  establishing  of  the  mission.  Now 
because  of  their  growth  they  must  expand.  It  was,  there 
fore,  that  they  urged  consideration  of  a  building  program. 

The  Benedictine  Fathers  at  once  recognized  the  need  of 
building  activity,  but  advised  the  West  Side  parish  commit/ 
tee  to  consult  with  the  episcopal  authority,  Rt.  Rev.  James 
Duggan.  Eagerly  this  determined  committee  arranged  for  a 
conference  with  his  Lordship.    Bishop  Duggan  received  the 


FATHER  PHILLIP  ALBRECHT  7 

committee  on  the  appointed  day  and  quietly  listened  to  their 
arguments  and  suggestions.  Finally,  having  studied  the 
whole  situation  in  mind,  he  declared  the  appointment  of  the 
Rev.  Ferdinand  Kalvelage,  the  then  pastor  of  St.  Francis 
Assissi  Church,  located  on  the  corner  of  Twelfth  and  New 
berry  Streets  (now  Roosevelt  Road  and  Newberry  Street), 
to  be  his  representative  in  the  matter  of  the  erection  and  gave 
him  all  power. 

The  committee  was  composed  of  the  following  members: 
P.  Suerth,  J.  Klettenberg,  B.  Schuenemann,  Anton  Dettmer, 
J.  Dinet,  J.  Hildebrandt,  Peter  Schommer,  Peter  Schmidt, 
and  John  Hellmuth.  These  men  almost  immediately  set  forth 
to  see  the  Reverend  Ferdinand  Kalvelage.  This  esteemed 
and  venerable  "Pastor  Bonus"  as  he  was  known  by  the  mem' 
bers  of  his  flock  received  them  cordially  and  sympathetically. 
He  seemed  to  finger  the  pulse  of  the  situation  which  indi' 
cated  men  ravenously  hungry  for  a  place  of  worship.  These 
men  wanted  a  church!  His  decision  was  quick  and  pro- 
nounced:   "You  shall  have  it!" 

Thereupon  arrangement  was  made  to  inspect  the  territory 
and  select  a  site  for  the  building  of  the  edifice.  Time  was 
not  wanting,  for  Father  Kalvelage  was  as  anxious  that  they 
have  their  church  as  were  the  people  themselves.  So  within 
a  week  of  the  representative  committee's  appointment  with 
Father  Kalvelage,  he  visited  the  territory  and  made  his  selec 
tion  of  a  suitable  site. 

Of  course,  you  recollect  that  the  "little  white  school 
house' '  was  located  on  the  corner  of  Carpenter  and  Chicago 
Avenue  and  so,  naturally,  the  tendency  was  to  build  a  church 
near  the  old  stamping  ground  and  even,  somewhat  east  of  the 
"little  white  school  house."  The  West  Siders  certainly  were 
well  acquainted  with  this  portion  of  the  city.     It  was  very 


Reverend  Ferdinand  Kalvelage 


FATHER  PHILLIP  ALBRECHT  9 

well  settled,  but  the  question  arose  as  to  the  advisability  of 
building  in  the  midst  of  such  a  well  settled  community. 
Experience  seems  to  point  out  that  the  people  move  in  the 
vicinty  of  the  church  and  in  that  way  give  birth  to  a  new 
neighborhood. 

Father  Kalvelage  did  not  favor  the  eastward  trend  of  a  few 
of  the  committee,  from  Chicago  Avenue  and  Carpenter 
Street  and  did  not  favor  the  central  location  either,  fearing 
that  growth  might  bring  too  much  business  activity  and 
crowd  out  the  tenants.  After  some  consideration  the  com' 
mittee  finally  agreed  to  erect  the  church  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  Cornell  and  Noble  Streets,  the  site  of  the  present 
St.  Boniface  Church.  At  that  time,  in  1864,  the  city  limits 
were  Ashland  Avenue  which  made  the  boundary  on  the 
west  rather  narrow,  but  it  was  the  hope  of  the  committee  that 
this  would  surely  adjust  itself  in  later  years.  It  was  not 
long  and  the  city  limits  stretched  beyond  Ashland  Avenue  to 
Western  and  farther  as  time  went  on  and  growth  of  this  sec 
tion  continued. 

The  committee  more  willing  for  the  church,  probably,  than 
the  location,  acquiesced  in  the  desire  of  Father  Kalvelage  and 
at  once  began  to  erect,  after  purchase  of  small  plot  of  vacant 
128x125,  a  frame  structure.  This  was  late  in  the  year  of 
1864.  It  is  well  worthy  of  note  that  these  near  Westerners, 
after  permission  was  granted  them  to  build,  erected  the 
church  edifice  practically  on  their  own  initiative.  There  was 
no  priest  stationed  at  St.  Boniface  Church  at  the  time  build' 
ing  activity  was  begun. 

Father  Albrecht,  the  first  appointed  priest  to  the  parish 
did  not  arrive  until  the  forepart  of  March,  1865.  His  ap' 
pointment  dated  presumably  the  first  days  of  March,  1865, 
for  Holy  Mass  was  read  March  5th,  1865,  for  the  first  time. 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

On  March  1 2th,  the  first  baptisms  took  place  which  indicates 
that  he  could  not  have  been  on  the  premises  prior  to  March, 
1 865.  The  nearest  church  for  these  near  Westerners  was  St. 
Joseph's  and  that  was  quite  a  distance  away.  No  baptism  or 
any  other  administration  of  priestly  functions  are  recorded 
prior  to  March  5th,  1865. 

The  only  reason  for  emphasizing  the  above  data  is  the 
wonderful  example  of  zeal  it  depicts  on  the  part  of  these  early 
settlers.  Then,  too,  we  can  understand  how  they  worked 
together  in  erecting  a  church  at  the  cost  of  $7,500,  left  to 
their  own  leadership,  resources  and  judgment.  They  worked 
well.  According  to  the  "History  of  the  Catholic  Churches 
in  Chicago1'  by  Buegler,  Peter  Schommer  is  reputed  to  have 
given  two  hundred  dollars  toward  the  erection  of  the  edifice. 
However,  the  descendants  of  Christof  Schommer  claim  an 
error  with  regard  to  this  record.  The  claim  is  made  that  it 
was  Christof  Schommer  who  made  the  gift  of  two  hundred 
dollars;  and  that  he  borrowed  the  money  to  make  the  gift. 
Christof  Schommer,  from  what  has  been  learned,  was  a  very 
pious  man  and  was  surely  equal  to  the  demonstration  of  such 
fervor.  There  were  other  donors  who  gave  generously  of 
their  possessions.  They  follow:  Matt.  Mitchel,  Bernhard 
Schuenemann,  Albert  Westfal,  John  Schuenemann,  Nicholas 
Schommer,  Peter  Schommer  and  Bernard  Meil. 

Mr.  Bras  gave  the  first  sanctuary  lamp  and  reserved  the 
presentation  of  that  gift  for  himself  during  the  construction 
of  the  church.  He  wanted  to  provide  the  lamp  that  would 
keep  a  continuous  vigil  before  the  Altar  of  our  Saviour. 
Another  gift  worthy  of  mention  and  still  more  worthy  of 
location  is  the  bell  given  to  St.  Boniface  Church  by  Jus' 
tice  Schenevald.  The  reason  that  this  gift  is  worthy  of  loca' 
tion  is  this:  "It  is  reputed  to  be  the  bell  which  rang  forth 


FATHER  PHILLIP  ALBRECHT  11 

from  the  tower  of  old  Fort  Dearborn."  Somehow  or  other, 
this  bell  mysteriously  disappeared.  Tradition  tells  us  that  a 
number  of  people  were  interested  in  its  purchase.  All  tradi- 
tion  that  has  come  to  us  as  evidence  clearly  states  that  the 
bell  was  never  sold.  The  inference  made  is  that  it  was  given 
away  or  stolen.  In  refutation  of  the  contention  that  it  was 
given  away  it  may  be  argued.  It  is  highly  improbable  that 
anyone  would  have  presented  this  bell  to  any  institution  with- 
out having  made  note  of  such  presentation.  It  was  conjec- 
tured that  St.  Boniface  Cemetery  obtained  possession  of 
the  bell.  This  is  untrue,  since  their  records  do  not  indicate 
any  gift  of  that  nature.  After  a  year  of  search,  there  is  no 
clue  to  be  offered  as  to  the  whereabouts  of  the  first  bell  of  St. 
Boniface  reputed  to  be  the  bell  of  old  Fort  Dearborn. 

In  the  year  of  1864  prior  to  the  building  of  the  church 
edifice,  the  "little  white  school  house' '  was  moved  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  Cornell  and  Noble  Streets.  It  can  be 
seen  in  the  rear  of  that  lot,  enlarged  to  twice  its  original  size, 
to  this  day.  Apparently,  the  early  settlers  looked  to  order 
and  convenience  and  therefore  insisted  upon  church  and 
school  being  together.  The  moving  and  enlarging  of  this 
structure  necessitated  a  considerable  expense  which  these 
early  pioneers  gladly  paid.  We  must  admire  their  labor  and 
their  zeal.  Their  simplicity  is  a  virtue  in  itself  which  we  can- 
not in  this  age,  because  of  our  extravagant  living,  fully 
appreciate,  much  less  imitate. 

Father  Phillip  Albrecht  was  a  congenial  man.  He  worked 
up  social  activity  in  the  parish.  Several  picnics  were  held 
under  his  regime.  The  famed  old  stamping  ground  for  these 
festivities  were  the  "Elston  Gardens"  located  at  Augusta  and 
Racine  Avenues.  "Dieden's  Garden"  figured  quite  promi- 
nently also,  as  a  social  gathering  park  for  the  early  parish' 


Reverend  Phillip  Albrecht 
First  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface  Church 


12 


FATHER  PHILLIP  ALBRECHT  13 

ioners  of  St.  Boniface  Church.  The  latter  place  of  amuse- 
ment was  located  at  Elston  and  Division  Streets. 

Whenever  any  festivities  were  conducted  in  either  of  these 
two  gardens,  it  meant  a  fifteen  hour  day  of  gaiety.  Early  in 
the  morning  the  children  would  gather  about  the  school  so 
as  to  be  in  readiness  for  the  march  to  the  park  by  nine  o'clock. 
Almost  to  the  minute,  when  the  hands  of  the  clock  covered 
its  numerals  nine  and  twelve,  the  band  would  play  the  famed 
old  selection:  "O  Susanna,  wie  ist  das  Leben  doch  so  schoenr 
which,  at  that  time,  was  akin  to  the  later  day  college  selec- 
tion: "Hail,  hail,  the  gang  is  here!" 

The  line  of  march  was  always  lead  by  a  horseman.  In 
Father  Albrecht's  time,  this  distinction  usually  came  to  a 
Mr.  Anton  Buettgen.  His  task  of  marshal  on  these  occasions 
was  taken  as  a  serious  matter  and  he  rode  his  steed  in  true 
German  fashion  which  always  reflected  his  cavalry  training 
in  the  forces  of  the  Kaiser.  Mr.  Anton  Buettgen  was  a  good 
mixer,  but  when  in  command  of  his  forces  and  under  the 
instruction  to  besiege  the  picnic  grove  and  destroy  all  that 
was  found  within  that  arsenal  of  pleasure,  he  acted  almost 
like  the  local  prohibition  enforcers  in  a  clean  up  with  half  the 
agitation  and  publicity  and  a  great  deal  more  genuine  satis- 
faction which  made  him  beloved  by  all.  Those  were  the 
days  in  which  lawlessness  had  not  yet  come  into  being.  The 
real  days  of  quiet  and  happy  living.  True,  they  were  not 
bent  upon  burning  up  the  world!  But  many  having  that 
object  in  view  now  only  succeed  in  bringing  to  life  hostility 
and  disquietness.  The  description  gives  you  the  spirit  of  '66 
and  '67.  Many  of  us,  would  greet  with  gleefulness  the  return 
of  some  of  that  spirit.  Not  necessarily  fire  water,  but  the 
amber  fluid. 

Father  Albrecht  founded  the  St.  Bonifacius  Unterstuets- 


14  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

ungs-Verein  which  later  worked  in  such  proportion  as  to 
necessitate  that  it  become  incorporate.  The  following  official 
papers  of  incorporation  are  still  extant. 

Be  it  remembered:  That  we:  Anton  Buettgen,  Anton  Det- 
mer,  Mathias  Spoo,  Winand  Nelles,  Bernhard  Brussener, 
Theodore  Ott,  and  Winand  Kremerius,  the  undersigned  cor- 
porators, persons  of  full  age,  citizens  of  the  United  States  and 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  residents  of  the  City  of  Chicago, 
County  of  Cook,  and  State  of  Illinois,  for  benevolent  pur- 
poses to  be  designated  and  known  as  the  "St.  Bonifacius 
Un  ters  tuetzungs-  Verein . ' ' 

The  purpose  and  object  of  this  society  is  to  maintain  and 
protect  the  widows  and  orphans  of  members  of  this  society. 
This  society  to  extend  and  continue  for  and  through  the 
space  of  twenty  years.  And  the  members  of  trustees  of  this 
society  for  its  first  year's  existence  are  three  whose  names 
are  Winand  Nelles,  Theodore  Ott,  and  Bernhard  Brussener, 

This  society  being  established  and  organized  by  virtue  of 
the  Provisions  of  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  approved  February  24,  1859,  and  entitled,  "An  act 
for  the  Incorporation  of  Benevolent,  Educational,  Literary, 
Musical,  Scientific,  and  Missionary  Societies,  including 
Societies  formed  for  mutual  improvement,  or  for  the  promc 
tion  of  the  arts;1'  with  all  the  privileges,  immunities,  benefits 
and  liabilities  conferred  and  enjoined  upon  this  society  by 
the  provisions  of  said  act. 

In  consideration  whereof,  we  hereunto,  set  our  hands  and 
seals  this  31st  day  of  December,  1870. 

Anton  Buettgen,  (L.S.)        Winand  Nelles,  (L.S.) 
Anton  Detmer,  (L.S.)  Bernhard  Brussener,  (L.S.) 

Mathias  Spoo,  (L.S.)  Theodore  Ott,  (L.S.) 

Winand  Kremerius,  (L.S.) 


FATHER  PHILLIP  ALBRECHT  IN- 

STATE OF  ILLINOIS,     I 

Cook  County  $ 

I,  Andrew  Ensenbacher,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  in  and  for 
the  County  and  State  aforesaid,  do  hereby  certify  that  Anton 
Buettgen,  Anton  Dettmer,  Mathias  Spoo,  Winand  Nelles, 
Bernhard  Brussener,  Theodore  Ott,  and  Winand  Kremerius, 
each  and  all  of  them  personally  known  to  me  to  be  the  same 
persons  whose  names  are  subscribed  to  the  foregoing  certi- 
ficate, this  day  appeared  before  me  in  person,  and  each  and  all 
of  them  acknowledged  that  they  made  and  signed  the  fore 
going  certificate  as  their  own  free  and  voluntary  act  for  the 
uses  and  purposes  therein  set  forth. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  this  second  day  of  January, 
1871. 

(  L.S.  ) 

Andrew  Ensenbacher, 
Justice  of  the  Peace. 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,        \ 

Cook  County,  $ 

I,  Norman  T.  Gassette,  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of 
Cook  County,  hereby  certify  the  above  and  foregoing  to  be 
a  duplicate  of  the  certificate  of  organisation  of  the  "St.  Boni- 
facius  UnterstuetsungS'Verein"  filed  in  my  office  this  third 
day  of  January,  1871. 

Witness  my  hand  and  Seal  of  said  Court, 

Norman  T.  Gassette, 

Clerk  Circuit  Court  and  ex  officio 

Recorder  of  Cook  County, 

(Seal  Circuit  Court  Cook  County) 

Office  of  the  Secretary. 


16  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA,      } 
State  of  Illinois  $ 

I,  Edward  Rumel,  Secretary  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  do 
hereby  certify  that  the  foregoing  is  a  true  copy  of  the  Cer- 
tificate of  Organization  of  the  "St.  Bonifacius  Unterstuetz- 
ungs-Verein,"  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State, 
under  the  general  incorporation  law  of  the  State,  on  the  fifth 
day  of  January,  1871,  and  now  on  file  in  this  office.  In 
witness  whereof,  I  hereto  set  my  hand  and  affix  the  Great 
Seal  of  State  at  the  city  of  Springfield,  this  ninth  day  of 
January,  1871. 

(L.S.)  Edward  Rummel, 

Secretary  of  State. 

The  "St.  Bonifacius  Unterstuetzungs-Verein"  was  a 
worthy  organization  founded  on  charity  towards  our  neigh- 
bor. But  as  they  waxed  strong,  their  power  slightly  turned 
their  minds  from  the  object  of  love  and  respect  to  greater 
power  and  authority.  Within  a  few  years  their  heads  had 
swelled  to  the  consideration  of  their  own  worth  alone,  they 
kicked  the  tresses,  opposition  to  legitimate  authority  arose 
and  the  beginning  of  their  end  was  imminent.  A  storm  oc- 
curred, which  caused,  in  the  raging  of  the  tempest,  men  to 
lose  their  presence  of  mind  and  resulted  in  the  non-recogni- 
tion of  the  entire  organization. 

The  St.  Boniface  Parish  in  the  year  of  sixty-five  could  not 
be  considered  a  babe  in  the  woods.  For  the  records  bear  wit- 
ness to  the  baptism  of  seventy-two  infants  from  March  1 2th, 
1 865,  until  January  1st,  1 866.  So  it  is  readily  understood  that 
there  was  quite  a  community  in  existence  the  first  year  that 
St.  Boniface  Church  functioned  with  its  regularly  appointed 


FATHER  PHILLIP  ALBRECHT  17 

pastor.  The  following  entire  year  of  1866  the  baptismal 
register  very  distinctly  records  the  baptism  of  119.  The 
sacrament  of  matrimony  record  book  registers  nine  weddings 
in  approximately  nine  months  and  twentyone  marriages  in 
the  entire  year  of  1866.  There  are  a  great  number  of  well 
organised  parishes  today  that  could  not  boast  of  such  records, 
all  of  which  indicates  that  the  western  section  of  the  city 
was  enjoying  a  healthful  growth. 

Father  Phillip  Albrecht  was  relieved  for  about  a  month  of 
his  duties  by  his  brother,  the  Reverend  Max  Albrecht.  It 
appears  on  record  that  Father  Max  Albrecht  substituted 
shortly  before  Father  Phillip  Albrecht  left  for  another  field 
of  activity.  Presumably  during  his  absence  from  St.  Boni- 
face he  was  negotiating  for  the  conduct  of  a  new  mission. 
It  is  highly  improbable  that  he  would  have  gone  for  a  vaca- 
tion,  because  that  custom  of  vacationing  had  not  yet  then 
been  in  vogue.  Then  too,  we  must  understand  that  Father 
Phillip  Albrecht  was  a  man  of  untiring  efforts  and,  relaxa- 
tion no  matter  how  beneficial  it  would  have  been  to  the 
upkeep  of  the  system,  would  certainly  not  have  interfered 
with  his  work  of  establishing  missions. 

Father  Albrecht  was  a  very  able  man,  orator,  traveler  and 
builder.  He  came  to  St.  Boniface  the  forepart  of  March  in 
the  year  of  1865  and  remained  in  charge  until  the  latter  part 
of  April,  1867,  when  he  gave  up  his  charge  to  organise  a  new 
parish  in  Piatt ville,  Wisconsin.  It  was  an  arduous  task  which 
he  had  undertaken,  but  Father  Albrecht  seemed  adventurous 
and  enjoyed  the  hardships  that  came  to  his  life.  Reference 
is  made  above  to  him  as  a  traveler.  It  may  be  added  that 
such  reference  should  only  be  employed  in  connection  with 
his  building  activity,  for  Father  Albrecht  built  upwards 
of  twenty  churches  which  took  him  all  over  the  country. 


18  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

The  states  of  Wisconsin  and  the  Dakotas  profited  mostly  by 
his  ability  to  organise  new  parishes. 

Father  Albrecht  was  a  good  mixer,  very  congenial  in  his 
relation  to  his  flock.  He  was  democratic  and  had  a  large  host 
of  friends.  The  students  of  old  St.  Mary  of  the  Lake  Semin- 
ary made  it  their  habit  to  call  on  the  pastor  of  St.  Boniface 
Church  whenever  opportunity  presented  itself.  And  Father 
Albrecht  was  always  on  the  alert.  He  would  see  a  group  of 
the  students  coming  through  the  prairie  and  would  beckon 
his  housekeeper  from  the  garden  to  go  for  refreshments. 
Then  the  steins  would  be  brought  forth  and  all  would  be  in 
readiness  for  the  students'  welcome.  After  an  hour  or  so 
of  good  company  the  students  took  their  leave.  One  among 
that  group  of  students  who  visited  Father  Albrecht  is  still 
alive  and  spoke  very  enthusiastically  about  St.  Boniface's  first 
pastor.  If  space  would  permit,  it  would  be  interesting  to 
record  some  of  these  student  meetings  for  it  would  help  us 
to  visualize  the  true  character  of  Father  Phillip  Albrecht. 

There  was  something  in  the  man  which  called  forth  the 
admiration  and  respect  of  everyone  in  spite  of  a  few  of  the 
parishioners  who  thought  he  was  too  ordinary  in  his  friend- 
ship with  his  flock.  These  people  carried  their  heads  high, 
because  of  position  or  wealth,  with  an  air  of  "wir  sind  keine 
gewoenlichen  Leute."  But  this  spirit  did  not  faze  Father 
Albrecht,  who  had  the  spirit  of  St.  Paul  "be  all  to  all  men." 

When  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  1867,  he  departed  from 
St.  Boniface  Parish,  the  people  who  had  grown  to  love  him 
shed  tears  of  sorrow  for  the  loss  of  their  friend,  and  their 
leader.  It  was  a  rather  dreary  day  though  the  sun's  benign 
rays  were  unusually  bright.  Dreary  only  because  of  the 
transfer  of  their  pastor.  Father  Phillip  Albrecht,  the  scholar, 
good  penman,  orator  and  builder  was  to  make  his  abode  in 


FATHER  PHILLIP  ALBRECHT  19 

Plattville,  Wisconsin.  The  old  adage:  "Scheiden  tut  wen!" 
was  very  much  in  evidence.  Everyone  was  sorrowed  by  the 
sad  news,  for  Father  Albrecht  had  since  his  apointment 
in  March,  1865,  served  the  parish  well  and  endeared  himself 
because  of  his  winning  personality  to  a  majority  of  his  flock. 
He  was  a  '  'worker"  in  everything  that  concerned  the  welfare 
of  St.  Boniface  Parish  and  the  spread  of  the  kingdom  of  God 
on  earth.  It  indeed  required  sacrifice  upon  sacrifice  to  live  a 
life  as  he  did  always  looking  to  someone  or  some  community 
to  whom  he  might  be  of  service.  It  can  be  unhesitatingly 
stated  that  unless  love  of  the  ideal  were  ever  present  in  his 
mind  the  sacrifices  of  his  life  would  have  not  been  made,  and 
consequently,  he  would  not  have  had  to  his  credit  the  organ- 
ization of  upwards  of  twenty  parishes.  All  that  can  be 
added  is  that  he  was  untiring  in  his  labors,  that  HE  LOVED 
TO  WORK. 


£F 


. 


» 


1 


Reverend  James  Marshall 
Second  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface  Church 


20 


FATHER  JAMES  MARSHALL 

or  a  few  months  after  Father  Phillip  Albrecht 
had  taken  leave  of  St.  Boniface  Parish,  the 
absence  of  records  indicate  that  the  parish 
was  without  a  spiritual  adviser.  The  first 
mention  of  a  priest,  and  acting  pastor,  since 
April,  1867,  the  approximate  date  of  Father 
Albrecht's  desparture,  is  the  ninth  of  June, 
when  a  Jesuit  father,  the  Reverend  Nieder- 
korn  S.J.,  administered  the  sacrament  of  baptism  in  the 
church.  Thereafter,  Father  Niederkorn's  name  appears  ten 
times  in  the  baptismal  register,  the  last  date  of  appearance 
being  June  30th,  1867. 

In  the  first  week  of  July,  the  year  1867,  appears  the  name 
of  Reverend  James  Marshall.  During  the  remainder  of  that 
year  the  baptismal  register  points  out  very  explicitly  to  the 
baptism  of  ninetyone  children.  This  is  a  fair  indication  of 
how  St.  Boniface  Parish  was  growing.  By  leaps  and  bounds, 
it  had  increased  its  membership  from  about  twenty  seven 
families  in  1864  to  at  least  four  times  that  many  in  less  than 
four  years. 

The  first  thought  of  Father  Marshall  went  out  to  the 
children.  How  could  one  man,  Mr.  Nic  Alles,  attend  consci- 
entiously to  those  children  who  ought  to  come  to  St.  Boniface 
School?  It  did  not  take  much  thought  to  realize  the  need 
of  more  teachers  for  the  coming  year.  With  that  purpose  in 
mind  of  procuring  more  teachers  Father  Marshall  set  out 
almost  immediately  after  he  came  to  St.  Boniface  to  the 
Motherhouse  of  the  Franciscan  Nuns  in  Joliet,  Illinois,  and 

21 


Nicholas  Alles 


22 


FATHER  PHILLIP  ALBRECHT  23 

urged  them  to  supply  the  demand.  Venerable  Mother, 
Alfred  Moss  graciously  acquiesced  to  the  earnest  request  of 
Father  Marshall.  The  Venerable  Mother  designated  Sister 
M.  Francis  and  Sister  M.  Angela  as  teachers  of  the  school. 
Sister  M.  Francis  was  appointed  superior.  The  entire  teach- 
ing staff  for  the  school  year  from  September  third  1867  to 
1868  follows: 

Sister  M.  Francis,  superior;  Sister  M.  Angela;  Miss  Cathe- 
erine  Tehle,  postulant;  Miss  Schumacher,  for  housework  and 
Mr.  Nicholas  Alles.  The  pupils  numbered  one  hundred  and 
eighty.  One  hundred  and  thirty  were  under  the  sisters1 
charge,  and  thirty  of  the  larger  boys  were  taught  by  the  lay 
teacher,  Mr.  Nicholas  Alles.  Herein  stated  is  the  first  accom- 
plishment  of  the  Reverend  James  Marshall.  Like  a  spoken 
word  which  knows  no  recall,  this  success  was  to  lead  on  to 
incalculable  good.  Father  Marshall  had  put  the  ball  in  motion 
with  the  generous  cooperation  of  Venerable  Mother  Alfred. 
In  the  course  of  years  of  motion  which  followed  these  two 
esteemed  personages  can  be  credited  with  the  good  their 
course  of  action  wrought,  a  religious  vocation  every  year;  so 
that  up  to  this  writing,  June  1926,  fifty-six  girls  have  enjoyed 
the  call  as  brides  of  Christ  and  entered  the  cloister  and  more 
than  twelve  youths  have  taken  the  Church  as  their  bride. 
What  a  wonderful  accomplishment!  Brought  about  solely 
because  both  Father  Marshall  and  Venerable  Mother  Alfred 
were  bent  upon  doing  the  will  of  their   heavenly  Father. 

We  must  presume  Father  Marshall  to  have  been  a  religi- 
ous man  for  the  next  move  was  to  inaugurate  a  two  weeks' 
mission.  One  week  was  for  the  men  and  one  week  for  the 
women.  This  mission  was  conducted  by  Father  Anselm 
Mueller,  O.F.M.,  a  Franciscan  father  from  Quincy,  Illinois. 
It  may  be  interesting  to  relate  the  reception  tendered  the 


Reverend  Anselm  Mueller,  O.F.M. 


24 


FATHER  PHILLIP  ALBRECHT  25 

Franciscan  father  on  this  occasion;  as  also,  it  will  be  indic- 
ative of  the  manner  of  living  in  those  days. 

It  must  have  been  late  in  the  fall  of  the  year  when  Father 
Anselm  was  requested  to  substitute  for  one  of  his  confriars 
who  became  ill,  but  who  was  originally  commissioned  to  hold 
the  mission  at  St.  Boniface.  For,  as  Father  Anselm  often 
recalled  to  mind  and  always  pleasantly,  he  arrived  at  the  rec- 
tory and  for  some  reason  the  door  was  not  opened  until  he 
had  knocked  considerably  and  repeatedly.  Finally,  the  door 
did  swing  on  its  hinges,  but  as  all  was  in  darkness  it  was  diffi- 
cult to  know  whether  he  should  enter,  or  whether  perforce 
the  door  just  naturally  opened.  Soon,  however,  the  voice 
of  the  housekeeper  beckoned  the  father  to  come  in.  With 
bag  in  one  hand,  Father  Anselm  proceeded  with  the  other 
to  feel  his  way  into  the  house.  After  great  difficulty  his 
escort  led  him  to  his  room,  bade  him  good  night  and  walked 
away. 

Father  Anselm  was  a  little  bewildered.  He  considered  the 
proposition  for  a  time  and  as  the  chill  ran  up  and  down  his 
back  resolved  that  the  best  thing  he  could  do  was  retire. 
First,  however,  he  thought  he  would  look  around  the  room 
so  as  to  get  his  bearings.  He  lit  a  match  and  looked  about. 
Apparently  he  was  satisfied  with  the  conditions  and  circum- 
stances and  prepared  to  carry  out  his  resolution.  The  story 
continues  when  to  his  surprise  having  crawled  into  bed  his 
feet  came  into  contact  with  a  large  warm  brick.  It  was  begin- 
ning to  be  heartfelt  for  it  was  the  only  warmth  he  encoun- 
tered in  the  entire  reception.  This  little  incident  did  not 
however,  interfere  with  the  outcome  of  the  mision.  It  was 
a  grand  success.  Many  a  time  in  after  life  Father  Anselm 
would  jest  and  laugh  about  his  first  mission  which,  coinci- 
dently,  was  the  first  mission  at  St.  Boniface. 


26  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

In  his  stay  of  a  little  more  than  a  year  Father  Marshall 
had  made  great  strides.  He  worked  fast!  He  persuaded  the 
sisterhood  of  St.  Francis  to  conduct  the  school  and  succeeded 
in  having  the  Franciscan  Fathers  give  a  mission.  Both  these 
works  rebounded  to  the  good  of  religion.  Therefore,  we 
feel  it  not  amiss  to  presume  that  Father  Marshall  was  fore 
most  a  religious  man.  That  he,  in  his  labors  was  concerned 
about  the  greater  glory  and  honor  of  God. 

We,  however,  must  not  labor  under  the  impression  that 
everything  went  smoothly  under  his  regime,  that  all  the 
children  of  his  flock  submitted  to  his  gentle  dictates  for  good. 
As  everywhere,  so  at  St.  Boniface,  there  were  members  in  the 
community  who  were  always  ready,  for  sake  of  argument, 
to  call  white,  black;  and  vice  versa.  These  people  were 
treated  as  gently  as  possible  and  with  the  greatest  considera' 
tion.  Father  Marshall  thought  less  argument  and  more  action 
would  quiet  these  fastidious.  But  it  seems  apparent  now  from 
the  data  we  have  on  hand  that  these  people  were  irritated 
by  the  successes  of  their  pastor.  They,  the  few,  of  course, 
literally  stood  in  the  way  of  every  progressive  move.  It,  in 
time  became  a  hard  battle,  and  one  for  supremacy. 

The  climax  came,  when  the  faction  of  irreconcilables,  were 
refused  admittance  to  the  office  of  the  pastor.  Their  pres' 
ence  always  caused  trouble  and  the  chasm  of  difficulty  was 
becoming  larger  at  each  session.  Father  Marshall  presume 
ably  thought  that  argument  would  not  draw  him  closer  to 
these  people,  and  so  he  issued  the  order  that  he  would  not 
see  them  anymore.  This,  of  course,  incensed  the  unruly. 
They  were  going  to  force  their  entrance,  they  must  be  heard 
and  more  than  that,  their  importance  and  rule  should  be  rec 
ognised.  These  few  people  were  creative  of  a  great  deal  of 
unnecessary  trouble  and  scandal  and,  for  the  most  part, 
over  nothing  at  all. 


FATHER  JAMES  MARSHALL  27 

When,  therefore,  they  had  secured  the  police  to  accom' 
pany  them  to  the  rectory  in  an  effort  to  gain  admission  to  the 
parsonage  and  force  their  presence  upon  the  pastor;  the  maid, 
seeing  the  officers,  became  affrighted  and  ran  to  the  school, 
there  to  seek  refuge  with  the  nuns.  The  angry  few  ordered 
the  police  to  arrest  her  because  she  failed  to  open  the  door, 
which  seemed  to  them  a  breach  of  respect  for  authority. 
The  whole  affair  came  to  a  very  sad  close.  Father  Marshall 
resigned  his  pastorate.  Rather  than  being  the  object  of 
undeserved  scandal  and  publicity,  he  decided  to  leave  the 
parish  for  which  he  worked  untiringly.  It  was  a  case  of  the 
organised  few  against  the  disorganised  many  that  brought 
about  this  result.  But  historical  data  bears  witness  to  the 
worthiness  and  good  intentions  of  the  pastor  of  St.  Boniface 
Church,  for  Father  Marshall  had  very  many  good  qualities 
which  were  amply  sufficient  to  offset  any  undiplomatic  move 
that  he  may  have  made.  There  was  no  reason  for  the  whole 
affair.  It  was  indeed  unfortunate  that  it  ever  came  to  pass. 
But  be  that  as  it  may,  Father  Marshall  lives  in  history,  as  a 
martyr  to  cruel  and  uncalled  for  persecution. 

Few  of  the  outstanding  qualities  of  Father  Marshall  can 
herewith  be  mentioned.  He  was  a  learned  man.  He  spoke 
English,  German  and  Polish  fluently.  Occasionally,  he  even 
conducted  devotions  in  the  Polish  language.  For  at  that  time, 
the  Poles  were  beginning  to  make  entrance  in  the  settlement. 
He  was  concerned  about  all  the  people  of  the  vicinity  and 
being  a  linquist  was  surely  able  to  give  them  his  personal  and 
undivided  attention.  It  must  be  remembered  that  St.  Boni' 
face  Church  was  the  first  church  in  this  vicinity;  where  now, 
there  exists  within  an  area  of  a  square  mile  seven  Catholic 
Churches. 

Father  Marshall  was  what  we  may  term  a  practical  lin' 


28  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

quist.  He  was  able  to  speak  fluently  at  least  three  languages. 
And  he  could  speak.  So  that  he  justly  deserves  mention  as 
an  orator.  He  was  brilliant  in  the  selection  of  thought  and 
its  expression.  There  is  no  question  but  what  he  would  have 
performed  exceedingly  greater  wonders  for  the  community 
and  his  parishoners  if  he  would  have  had  support.  But  no 
one  man  can  win  a  baseball  game.  The  pitcher  may  be  the 
chief  factor,  but  his  support  is  unquestionably  necessary  to 
win.  He  may,  at  times,  win  alone — but  not  always.  So,  good 
Father  Marshall  won,  alone  sometimes,  but  could  not  stand 
up  always  under  the  heartless  indifference  tendered  him. 

We  ought  not  close  this  chapter  without  some  considera- 
tion of  Mr.  Nicholas  Alles,  who  was  engaged  as  teacher  in  St. 
Boniface  School  from  1865  to  1872.  In  the  year  1867  he 
succeeded  Edward  Ederer  as  organist  and  controlled  the 
choir  until  relieved  of  that  commission  with  the  coming  of 
Sister  Fidelis  in  the  year  1872. 

Mr.  Alles,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  larger  boys  of  the 
school  was  surely  a  great  asset  in  achieving  great  progress 
throughout  those  early  years.  He  worked  in  harmony  with 
the  venerable  sisters  after  they  had  begun  their  career  at  St 
Boniface.  Hand  in  hand  work  increased  the  attendance  at 
the  school  so  that  the  increase  numbered  approximately  one 
hundred  more  students  from  1867  until  1872. 

Entertainments  were  given  by  the  children  even  in  those 
early  days.  And  while  writers  as  a  rule,  in  reviewing  the 
efforts  of  amateurs  at  "home  talent"  affairs  have  an  unwritten 
law  that  they  will  say  everything  "nice"  and  nothing  of  a  dis- 
paraging nature.  However,  in  this  case,  records  indicate  that 
such  praise  as  may  be  meted  out  to  the  children  taking  part 
in  the  entertainments  and  the  teachers  who  drilled  the  little 
ones,  is  by  no  means  perfunctory,  for  from  the  littlest  tot  to 


FATHER  JAMES  MARSHALL  29 

the  biggest  child  each  was  perfect.  One  saw  no  pantomime 
there,  no  faltering,  no  fearful  glances  into  the  wings  or  into 
the  great  gathering,  looking  for  moral  support.  Each  was, 
in  the  parlance  of  the  stage,  "letter  perfect,"  finished  and 
conscious  of  the  part  he  or  she  was  to  play,  with  a  technique 
that  would  put  to  shame  many  of  a  more  mature  age  and 
seasoned  experience. 

With  the  description  aforewritten  it  is  easy  to  visualize 
the  successes  that  came  to  the  venerable  sisters,  Mr.  Nicholas 
Alles  and  the  pastor,  the  Reverend  Father  Marshall.  The 
early  beginning  of  the  school  with  the  difficulties  that  were 
encountered  will  demand  a  chapter  by  itself.  Permit  this  to 
suffice  to  crown  the  chapter  of  Father  Marshall's  career  with 
glory.    The  highlights  in  his  pastorate  are  three: 

( 1 )  His  success  in  procuring  the  Venerable  Sisters  of  St. 
Francis,  Joliet,  Illinois,  to  teach; 

(2)  The  credit  that  should  come  to  him  for  having 
caused  the  first  mission  to  be  held  in  St.  Boniface; 

(3)  His  own  personal  qualities — a  talented  linquist, 
orator  and  religious  man. 


Reverend  Clement  Venn 
Third  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface  Church 


30 


FATHER  CLEMENT  VENN 

ather  Clement  Venn  was  the  pastor  of  St. 
Boniface  from  1869  to  1895. 

The  Venn  family  migrated  from  Holland 
to  Germany  in  the  year  1574,  when  William 
the  Silent,  Prince  of  Orange,  repudiated  his 
Catholic  faith  and  became  a  Calvanist. 
Father  Venn's  ancestor  entertained  the  well 
founded  suspicion  that  all  the  large  Catholic 
landholders  would  soon  be  called  upon  to  conform  their  faith 
to  that  of  the  Prince,  and  so  he  hastily  and  with  great  loss  sold 
his  possessions,  and  took  his  family  across  the  border  to  West- 
phalia.  God  had  blessed  this  fidelity  to  his  faith,  in  a  long 
line  of  descendants  who  in  various  ways  have  been  distin- 
guished in  the  service  of  the  Church.  Two  of  these,  Fathers 
Theodore  and  Clement  Venn  came  to  America.  Father 
Theodore  Venn  in  1859  entered  the  diocese  of  St.  Paul,  and 
Father  Clement  Venn  was  affiliated  with  Chicago. 

Father  Clement  Venn  was  born  in  Driburg,  Westphalia, 
November  23rd,  1834;  he  was  probably  baptised  the  same 
day,  as  he  received  the  name  of  Clement  whose  feast  day  is  on 
the  23rd  of  that  month.  His  father  was  a  physician,  and  as  a 
staff  physician  had  made  the  expedition  to  Russia  with 
Napoleon.  He  was  a  strict  Catholic  and  a  good  disciplin- 
arian. Among  the  other  notable  men  who  were  born  and 
lived  in  Driburg  at  that  time  was  Friedrich  Wilhelm  Weber, 
the  immortal  author  of  Dreisehn  Linden,  who  was  a  school 
and  play-mate  of  Father  Venn. 

Father  Venn's  early  inclination  to  the  priesthood  was 


32  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

fostered  by  his  parents,  so  that  at  the  age  of  25,  he  was 
ordained,  August  17,  1860.  His  first  field  was  in  the  famous 
Diaspora.  The  word  Diaspora  is  Greek  and  means  scattered. 
It  refers  to  the  fact  that  there  are  very  few  Catholics  in  this 
district  and  that  they  are  widely  scattered  over  the  land.  The 
Diaspora  has  always  and  still  is  considered  the  most  trying 
field  for  a  priest.  Its  people  are  poor  and  mostly  field  laborers, 
since  the  large  estates  of  which  it  is  composed  are  owned  by 
Non-Catholics.  But  in  spite  of  this  fact,  or  perhaps  in  conse 
quence  of  it,  the  Diaspora  has  produced  many  great  men  in 
the  Church.  Many  of  the  bishops  and  cardinals  of  Germany 
have  received  their  early  training  in  the  priesthood  there. 

One  day,  while  in  the  Diaspora,  he  was  stationed  at  Mag- 
deburg, Father  Venn  answered  a  sick  call  on  the  Bismarck 
estate.  A  young  laborer  was  dying  of  small-pox.  Father 
Venn  contracted  the  disease,  and  while  hovering  between 
life  and  death  made  the  vow,  that,  if  he  lived,  he  would  go 
to  America,  which  then  was  a  missionary  country.  His  face 
always  remained  slightly  marked  with  the  disease. 

He  recovered  and  arrived  in  America,  August  1st,  1866. 
He  immediately  came  to  Illinois,  where  the  dearth  of  priests 
was  great,  and  was  heartily  welcomed  by  Bishop  Duggan. 
His  first  appointment  was  Johnsburg,  111.,  in  McHenry 
County.  He  used  to  relate  the  following  peculiar  incident. 
A  girl  of  his  parish  was  courted  by  two  of  the  young  men. 
On  the  morning  of  her  marriage  to  one  of  them,  the  other  met 
her  at  the  church  door  and  in  the  presence  of  the  whole  con- 
gregation swore  that  she  should  never  have  any  luck  or  hap- 
piness. While  the  occurrence  made  a  disagreeable  impression, 
it  was  considered  merely  as  the  ravings  of  disappointment  and 
soon  was  forgotten.  But  shortly  after  that  strange  things 
began  to  happen.    The  crops  of  the  young  couple  were  fail- 


FATHER  CLEMENT  VENN  33 

ures  while  those  of  their  neighbors  were  abundant;  one  after 
the  other,  horses,  cows,  and  pigs  died  of  an  inexplicable 
malady.  One  morning  the  young  woman  called  in  one  of  her 
neighbors  to  take  care  of  the  little  baby,  while  she  went  on  an 
errand.  When  she  came  back  a  few  hours  later,  she  asked 
how  the  child  had  behaved  and  was  told  that  it  had  slept  all 
the  time  never  making  a  sound.  But  when  the  mother  took 
the  baby  from  the  cradle  it  was  dead.  This  was  a  little  too 
much  for  the  good  people  of  Johnsburg.  They  organized  a 
posse,  got  a  rope,  and  were  going  to  hang  the  man  who  had 
cursed  the  family.  Father  Venn  heard  of  their  intentions  and 
went  along  determined  to  prevent  the  lynching.  The  man 
admitted  that  he  was  responsible  for  all  the  misfortunes  which 
had  befallen.  With  the  aid  of  a  few  books  on  magic,  he  had, 
he  said,  devoted  himself  to  devil  worship,  always  praying  and 
asking  misfortune  for  his  enemies.  Father  Venn  made  him 
produce  the  books  and  burn  them  in  the  presence  of  the 
parishioners.  It  was  only  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that 
Father  Venn  dissuaded  the  crowd  from  the  lynching,  suggest- 
ing  as  a  compromise  that  they  should  hang  the  rope  from  a 
tree  before  the  man's  house,  with  the  threat  that  it  would  be 
used,  if  any  other  mishap  ever  took  place.  From  that  time 
calamity  ceased  to  pursue  the  family. 

The  second  appointment  of  Father  Venn  was  to  Meta- 
mora,  Illinois.  The  extent  of  our  diocese  at  that  time  can  be 
imagined  from  two  appointments  so  far  apart.  But  not  only 
the  diocese,  but  also  the  parishes  were  extensive,  sick  calls 
with  the  means  of  conveyance  then  in  use  sometimes  con- 
suming two  and  even  three  days.  But  Father  Venn  did  not 
remain  long  at  Metamora.  In  1869  he  became  pastor  of  St. 
Boniface,  and  remained  there  twenty-six  years. 

For  the  Catholic  Church  in  America,  this  was  an  unruly 


Men  Who  Should  be  Remembered  for  Their  Parish  Activity 


■  ■     ■  ■.'■■.  ..         ■■.■■■■  ■ .  ■ 


Joseph  Stamm  Frederick  Billmeyer  John  Fensterle,  Sr.  Andrew  Sprengel 


^m    JKtfL 


Jacob  Kiessling  Peter  Mueller  Christian  Bras  Peter  Kalteux 


Bernard  Stegmaier  Peter  Schommer  John  \V.  Dunnebacke       Petr  Schommer,  Jr. 


34 


FATHER  CLEMENT  VENN  35 

time.  At  this  time  occurred  the  great  contest  between  the 
clergy  and  the  people  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  To 
this  period  belong  the  battles  of  Archbishops  Kenrick  in 
Philadelphia  and  St.  Louis.  Taking  their  cue  from  Protes' 
tants  with  whom  they  lived,  the  Catholic  laity  thought  they 
ought  to  run  the  Church,  appointing  and  deposing  pastors. 
There  never  was  any  litigation  in  the  diocese  of  Chicago, 
because  from  the  very  beginning  Bishop  Quarter  had  origi- 
nated the  corporation  sole,  by  which  all  property  rights  are 
vested  in  the  Bishop  of  Chicago.  Bishop  William  Quarter 
was  such  a  remarkable  man,  and  his  services  of  such  far  reach' 
ing  importance  effecting  every  parish  that  has  been  or  will  be 
erected  in  Chicago,  that  no  history  of  any  part  of  the  diocese 
can  omit  to  keep  his  memory  green.  He  was  our  first  Bishop. 
On  Sunday,  May  5th,  1844,  (having  been  consecrated  in 
New  York,  he  arrived  in  Chicago  after  a  journey  of  1 8  days, 
by  train,  boat,  stage,  horseback,  and  on  foot.  There  was  no 
one  to  receive  him.  There  was  one  parish,  St.  Mary's  with  an 
old  church  and  a  new  one,  building.  His  diary  says:  "I  said 
mass  in  the  old  church  and  preached  in  the  new.  .  .  .  There 
are  at  present  only  two  priests  in  Chicago,  Fathers  St.  Palais 
and  Fischer."  He  died  a  sudden  death  on  the  10th  of  April, 
1848,  not  quite  four  years  after  his  arrival.  His  remains 
were  interred  beneath  the  sanctuary  of  St.  Mary's  Cathedral. 
Two  days  after  the  great  fire  of  1871  they  were  removed  and 
placed  in  the  vault  of  Calvary  Cemetery.  Today  they  rest  in 
the  bishop's  mausoleum  in  Mount  Carmel.  The  diocese  of 
Chicago  was  coextensive  in  those  days  with  Illinois.  When 
Bishop  Quarter  came,  in  all  this  territory,  there  were  twelve 
priests  and  as  many  parishes;  one  parish  and  two  priests  were 
in  Chicago.  When  he  died  in  less  than  four  years,  there 
were  40  priests  and  56  churches.     In  Chicago,  there  were 


Men  Who  Should  be  Remembered  for  Their  Parish  Activity 


0® 


r 


1/ 


Chas.  Golly  Albert  Rosenbergcr       Bernhard  Schueneman  JohnMocllcr 


II  di 


J.  B.  Mciler  Andrew  Korthals  M.  H.  Rauscher  Peter  Mueller 


36 


FATHER  CLEMENT  VENN  37 

four  churches,  St.  Mary's,  St.  Patrick's  and  the  two  German 
churches,  St.  Peter's  and  St.  Joseph's.  When  he  came  there 
were  no  schools.  When  he  died,  the  charter  of  the  Univer' 
sity  of  St.  Mary  of  the  Lake  had  been  secured  and  the  build' 
ing  had  been  erected,  with  its  chapel  dedicated  to  the  Holy 
Name  of  Jesus.  The  convent  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  had 
been  built  with  its  chapel.  A  hospital  and  an  orphan 
asylum  had  been  begun.  On  March  15th,  1845,  his  diary 
says:  "Objections  were  made  to  the  incorporation  in  the 
name  of  the  Catholic  Bishop  of  Chicago.  Now  the  act  is  in 
favor  of  the  Bishop,  and  his  successors,  holding  properties  in 
trust,  for  the  Catholics,  and  the  advantages  resulting  from 
the  passage  of  the  bill  may  be  enumerated  as  follows":  The 
wonderful  advantages  of  this  Corporation  in  their  entirety 
could  not  have  been  envisaged  even  by  this  far  sighted  man. 
Likewise  the  charter  of  the  University  of  St.  Mary  of  the 
Lake,  with  its  complete  powers  could  never  have  been 
obtained  from  any  legislature  since  then. 

On  June  10th  of  the  same  year  Bishop  Hughes  of  New 
York,  in  a  sermon  at  Chicago  said:  "Ah!  if  all  would  labor 
like  Bishop  Quarter!  Look  at  what  he  has  done;  see  that 
university;  see  that  convent.  What  had  he  when  he  came 
here?  and  still  see  what  he  has  left  after  him.  Bishop  Quarter 
is  gone,  but  Bishop  Quarter  shall  never  be — can  never  be — 
forgotten  in  Chicago.  .  .  .  Oh!  may  all  the  bishops  of  Chi- 
cago be  like  the  first."  But  while  by  the  wise  provision  of 
Bishop  Quarter  legal  battles  were  averted,  the  people  of  the 
diocese  were  nevertheless  infected  by  the  spirit  of  the  times 
and  were  always  causing  trouble  for  their  priests.  This  was 
especially  true  in  German  and  Polish  parishes,  and  St.  Boni' 
face  was  no  exception.  The  first  occasion  for  this  strife  be 
tween  the  new  pastor  and  his  people  was  as  follows:    A  very 


Women  Who  Should  be  Remembered  for  Their 
Parish  Activity 


Pa* 

IIP 


A.  Rosenberger  C.  Hellmuth  Barbara  Dunnebacke  B.  Schueneman 


... 


J.  Moeller  Margaret  Billmeyer  Helen  Fensterle  Josephine  Stegmaier 


* 


.7 


% 


Pauline  Klingenmaier  Josephine  Sass  Susanna  Mathia  J.  Kiessling 


38 


FATHER  CLEMENT  VENN  39 

disreputable  character,  a  drunkard  and  very  lax  morally,  hav- 
ing left  his  wife  in  Europe,  was  a  member  of  the  choir.  With 
perfect  justice  Father  Venn  dismissed  him  without  consulting 
the  trustees  or  the  officers  of  the  St.  Bonifacius  Unterstuetz- 
ungs-  Verein  which  organisation  was  especially  active  in  oppo- 
sition to  Father  Venn.  His  "high  handed"  manner  immedi- 
ately aroused  the  opposition  of  the  Unterstuetzungs- Verein, 
only  too  glad  to  find  any  pretext,  and  really  constituted  the 
source  of  all  succeeding  troubles.  The  Unterstuetzungs- 
Verein  used  to  conduct  many  picnics,  which  were  attended 
with  drunkenness  and  excesses  of  every  kind.  In  order  to 
curb  their  power,  Father  Venn  organized  the  St.  Bonifacius 
Liebesbund  in  1874.  Its  first  officers  were  Franz  Knietsch, 
Pres.;  Michael  Kallas,  Vice-Pres.;  Andreas  Behrendt,  1st 
Sec;  Franz  Issen,  2nd  Sec;  Andrew  Korthals,  Treas.  There 
were  160  members. 

One  of  the  most  conspicuous  and  picturesque  members  of 
the  parish  from  the  very  beginning  was  John  Reisel,  father, 
grandfather,  and  great  grandfather  of  many  of  that  name  still 
living  in  Chicago.  From  the  very  beginning  he  was  sexton, 
janitor,  usher  and  in  fact  everything  under  Father  Venn.  His 
salary  was  ten  dollars  a  month.  He  was  the  father  of  thirteen 
children.  He  was  born  in  Rheinheier,  Germany,  October 
13th,  1823,  came  to  America  in  1853,  and  died  Feb.  15th, 
1903.  On  Sundays  he  wore  a  blue  sash  trimmed  with  white 
and  carried  a  goldheaded  marshal's  staff  as  the  sign  of  his 
authority.  He  was  very  conscientious  in  collecting  the  seat 
money,  and  many  a  one  was  put  out,  because  he  was  unwill' 
ing  to  pay.  As  the  parish  kept  on  increasing,  he  had  great 
difficulty  in  determining  who  really  was  the  owner  of  the 
pews,  as  pews  at  that  time  were  still  rented  for  the  year.  He 
was  an  extremely  pious  man,  faithful  to  Father  Venn,  and 


Women  Who  Should  be  Remembered  for  Their 
Parish  Activity 


Susan  Mueller  Harriet  Frank  Anna  Weideman  A.  Korthals 


Barbara  Scholl  Susanna  Ludvvig  Susan  Stamm  B.  Mayer 


40 


FATHER  CLEMENT  VENN  41 

having  at  heart  the  interest  of  the  parish.  Father  Venn 
insisted  that  the  side  aisles  be  free,  and  it  was  a  great  source 
of  annoyance  to  Reisel  that  he  could  not  persuade  him 
otherwise. 

John  Reisel  deserves  mention  in  the  biography  of  Father 
Venn,  because  he  was  a  true  and  faithful  friend,  and  because 
he  helped  a  great  deal  in  the  organisation  of  the  parish.  But 
the  real  purpose  of  introducing  him  here  is  the  following 
incident.  Shortly  after  the  Liebesbund  had  been  founded, 
Father  Venn  refused  to  permit  the  old  Unterstuetz,ungs- 
Verein  to  receive  Holy  Communion  in  a  body  as  a  Catholic 
society  at  Easter  time.  The  reason  for  this  action  was  not 
only  because  they  were  the  source  of  all  opposition  in  the 
parish,  that  their  picnics  and  other  entertainments  were  a 
scandal  to  the  rest,  but  also  because  a  great  many  of  them 
came  totally  unprepared,  some  of  them  having  failed  to  go  to 
confession,  or  to  receive  absolution,  others  being  drunk,  etc. 
But  they  were  determined  upon  their  rights.  One  Sunday 
morning  they  formed  ranks  outside  and  started  to  march 
down  the  middle  aisle  in  all  their  regalia.  Father  Venn,  how 
ever,  had  also  determined  upon  a  showdown.  He  knew  that 
he  had  to  fight  the  battle  here  and  now.  So  in  his  vestments 
supported  by  the  Liebesbund  and  the  faithful  members  of  the 
parish,  he  marched  against  them.  He  was  at  the  head  of  his 
army,  his  faithful  lieutenant  John  Reisel  with  the  staff  of 
authority  at  his  side.  The  clash  came  about  the  middle  of 
the  church.  In  the  battle  that  followed,  the  UnterstueU' 
ungs' Verein  was  routed,  regalia,  banners  and  all  were  thrown 
out,  and  from  that  time  they  started  to  dwindle,  and  never 
asserted  themselves  again.  Father  Venn  was  in  vigorous 
health,  and  did  not  shirk  his  part  of  the  battle.  But  in  spite 
of  the  protection  of  John  Reisel,  he  received  many  a  kick  and 


42  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

blow  and  was  knocked  over.  A  few  days  after  the  victory, 
John  met  one  of  the  ring  leaders,  and  solemnly  assured  him 
that  he  would  not  have  any  luck  and  that  he  would  die  a 
miserable  end,  because,  he  said:  "Du  hast  einem  geweihten 
Haupte  im  Hinteren  getreten."  His  prediction  was  speedily 
fulfilled  not  only  in  the  case  of  that  one  man,  but  in  the  case 
of  many  others.  The  judgment  of  God  upon  the  opposition 
became  so  evident  to  the  members  of  the  parish,  that  in  a 
short  time  all  organised  opposition  ceased.  Most  of  those 
who  still  remember  Father  Venn,  recall  him  as  a  gentle  saintly 
old  man,  knowing  little  about  the  stormy  times,  when  like  the 
warrior  Bishops  of  old,  he  did  not  shrink  even  from  physical 
combat  in  the  cause  of  Holy  Church. 

The  boundaries  of  the  parish  at  that  time  were  Lake  Street 
on  the  south,  and  the  river  on  the  east.  The  northern  and 
western  boundaries  were  not  defined  and  probably  were  coin' 
cident  with  the  boundaries  of  the  diocese.  These  boundar- 
ies have  never  been  changed  legitimately,  and  while  practi- 
cally and  in  fact  he  recognized  the  formation  and  existence 
of  neighboring  German  parishes  to  the  north  and  west, 
Father  Venn  always  claimed  that  legally  they  have  no  exis- 
tence, except  perhaps  that  which  comes  to  squatters  by  super- 
annuation. But  as  the  territory  was  extensive  the  parishioners 
were  many;  on  the  Saturdays  before  Palm  and  Easter  Sun- 
days, when  they  would  congregate  from  this  whole  district 
for  their  Easter  Duty,  Father  Venn  frequently  was  in  the  con- 
fessional until  one  and  two  in  the  morning. 

On  the  night  of  October  8th,  1871,  the  great  Chicago 
Fire  took  place.  Thousands  of  people  were  driven  into  the 
streets,  homeless  and  penniless,  and  hundreds  lay  dead 
beneath  the  ruins. 

Dr.  McMullen,  who  will  be  mentioned  again  in  this  chap- 


FATHER  CLEMENT  VENN  43 

ter  was  rector  of  Holy  Name  Cathedral.  On  the  eventful 
night  he  was  on  a  visit  to  the  south  side.  He  said  afterward, 
"We  heard  a  great  noise  on  the  street,  and  on  looking  out  of 
the  windows  for  the  cause,  I  was  startled  at  witnessing  an 
illumination  as  if  the  whole  city  was  on  fire.  I  heard  the 
roaring  of  the  flames,  and  saw  a  multitude  of  people  carrying 
household  goods,  and  rushing  toward  State  Street  bridge;  I 
started  on  a  run  with  the  others,  and  by  the  time  we  reached 
the  bridge  it  was  burning/ '  He  vividly  describes,  how  the 
flames  would  rise  several  hundred  feet  high  and  roll  in  billows 
for  blocks  ahead;  how  the  orphans  guided  by  the  Sisters  of 
St.  Joseph  were  fleeing  over  North  Avenue  Bridge  to  the 
western  prairie  as  the  only  safe  place  of  refuge.  By  7  o'clock 
on  the  10th  of  October,  nothing  was  left  to  burn.  During 
these  dreadful  days  and  the  weeks  following  Fathers  Clement 
Venn  and  Thomas  Burke  of  St.  ColumkihVs  the  only 
churches  that  escaped  the  conflagration,  did  everything  in 
their  power  to  relieve  the  situation.  St.  Boniface  Church  and 
School  and  every  available  place  was  thrown  open  for  the 
sufferers.  Father  Venn  and  his  mother  worked  days  and 
nights  bringing  in  clothing,  bedding  and  victuals  for  their 
countless  guests.  An  eye  witness,  tells  how  on  one  occasion, 
since  vehicles  could  not  be  obtained,  Father  Venn  came  into 
the  school  loaded  down  with  hams,  and  bacon,  and  sausages 
which  he  had  gathered,  God  knows  where.  "Strung  together 
he  had  six  hams  hanging  over  his  shoulders,  three  in  front 
and  three  behind;  from  his  elbows  hung  slabs  of  bacon,  and 
in  his  hands  in  front  of  him,  he  held  strings  of  sausages.  His 
face  was  black  with  cinders  and  smoke,  and  he  walked  very 
slowly  lest  he  might  drop  some  of  his  valuable  cargo.' '  The 
joy  at  such  a  sight  among  the  starving  people  can  be 
imagined. 


Interior  of  Frame  Church 


44 


FATHER  CLEMENT  VENN  45 

The  poem  of  John  Greenleaf  Whittier  will  describe  in  verse 
the  aid  and  sympathy  which  was  in  evidence  during  that  try- 
ing disaster. 

Men  said  at  Vespers:  All  is  well! 

In  one  night  the  city  fell; 

Fell  shrines  of  prayer  and  marts  of  grain 

Before  the  fiery  hurricane. 

On  threescore  spires  had  sunset  shone, 
Where  ghastly  sunrise  looked  on  none; 
Men  clasped  each  other's  hand  and  said: 
The  City  of  the  West  is  dead! 

Brave  hearts  who  fought,  in  slow  retreat, 
The  fiends  of  fire  from  street  to  street, 
Turned,  powerless,  to  the  blinding  glare, 
The  dumb  defiance  of  despair. 

A  sudden  impulse  thrilled  each  wire 

That  signalled  round  the  sea  of  fire; 

Swift  words  of  cheer,  warm  heart  throbs  came; 

In  tears  of  pity  died  the  flame! 

From  East,  from  West,  from  South,  from  North, 
The  messages  of  hope  shot  forth, 
And  underneath  the  severing  wave, 
The  world,  fullhanded,  reached  to  save. 

Fair  seemed  the  old,  but  fairer  still 

The  new  dreary  void  shall  fill, 

With  dearer  homes  than  those  overthrown, 

For  love  shall  lay  each  cornerstone. 


46  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

Rise!  stricken  city! — from  thee  throw 
The  ashen  sackcloth  of  thy  woe; 
And  build,  as  Thebesto  amphion's  strain, 
The  songs  of  cheer  thy  walls  again! 

How  shrivelled,  in  thy  hot  distress, 
The  primal  sin  of  selfishness! 
How  instant  rose,  to  take  thy  part, 
The  angel  in  the  human  heart! 

Ah,  not  in  vain  the  flames  that  tossed 
Above  thy  dreadful  holocaust; 
The  Christ  again  has  preached  thru  thee 
The  gospel  of  humanity! 

Men  lift  once  more  thy  towers  on  high, 
And  fret  with  spires  the  Western  sky, 
To  tell  that  God  is  yet  with  us, 
And  love  is  still  miraculous. 

This  memorable  event,  started  a  new  era  in  the  growth  of 
St.  Boniface  Parish.  Many  of  those  who  had  come  over  as 
refugees  bought  property  and  made  their  permanent  residence 
here.  Many  of  the  old  frame  buildings  still  in  evidence  on 
our  alleys  and  streets  date  from  that  time.  It  also  meant  a 
new  era  of  building  for  the  parish  itself.  Father  Venn  was 
not  a  successful  builder.  Of  the  buildings  that  he  erected 
only  one  remains,  the  old  priests'  house,  now  used  for  the 
nuns'  convent.  The  reasons  for  his  failure  in  this  respect 
were  first  of  all  his  own  timidity  and  conservatism.  He 
was  afraid  of  debt,  and  did  not  wish  to  burden  his  people. 
The  second  reason  was  the  opposition  of  the  laity,  who  still 


FATHER  CLEMENT  VENN 


47 


wished  to  have  a  determining  voice  in  parish  financing.  He 
therefore,  had  to  resort  to  compromise  to  enlarging  and 
patching,  when  he  himself  often  was  convinced  of  the 
advantages  of  more  radical  changes. 

The  plan  of  the  buildings  in  1891  was  as  follows: 


£_= g*    ±  r 


(a 

i  i 

<  0 

1 

k 


h  » 


N    s 


J 

i 

00   ^ 

<b  1 

^o 

* 

*< 

y^~ 

^#^ 

CO**/£LL      S7T 


1 


Aeroplane  View  of  St.  Boniface  Church  Properties  in  1885 


The  church,  originally  a  small  building,  had  been  moved 
back  to  the  alley,  and  extended  in  front  to  the  street.  This 
was  done  shortly  after  the  fire.  The  belrry  had  been  erected 
in  1883  to  accommodate  the  bells  for  which  there  was  no  pro- 
vision  made  in  the  church.  The  bells  had  been  bought  in 
1882.  They  arrived  in  January  1883,  and  were  blessed  and 
installed  in  February,  1883.  They  are  the  same  wonderful 
bells  in  our  church  tower  today.  In  1874  the  school  had 
been  remodeled  and  enlarged  so  as  to  contain  six  class  rooms. 
The  school  was  on  posts,  but  a  brick  foundation  had  been 
placed  under  the  church,  the  foundation  of  a  more  pre' 
tentious  edifice  of  the  future,  which,  however,  failed  to  meet 
the  building  requirements.    The  house  between  the  church 


48  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

and  school  was  the  rectory.  The  sisters'  convent  is  marked 
by  No.  2.  In  1885  the  last  building  was  added,  a  three 
story  brick,  which  was  used  as  the  rectory.  The  first  floor 
of  the  old  rectory  was  occupied  by  the  sisters  in  1886, 
and  the  second  story  was  changed  into  a  parish  hall,  also 
serving  the  purpose  of  an  additional  class  room  for  the  school. 
Of  all  these  buildings  only  two  remain  on  the  premises.  The 
priests'  house  built  in  1885,  now  used  as  a  convent,  and  the 
old  rectory,  now  used  as  the  janitors'  house.  The  nuns' 
convent  originally  used  as  the  rectory  was  the  only  building 
Father  Venn  erected  according  to  his  own  mind.  It  is  a 
splendid  three  and  a  half  story  structure  of  brick,  and  com 
pares  creditably  with  the  more  pretentious  buildings  put  up 
later.  This  building  which  to-day  is  valued  at  $25,000,  cost 
$5,000.00.  But  the  expenditure  of  this  amount  which  to  us 
seems  ridiculously  small,  as  usually,  aroused  the  anger  of  the 
bad  element  in  the  parish.  They  complained  that  he  was 
erecting  a  palace  for  himself,  and  that  a  frame  building 
certainly  should  have  been  good  enough.  It  is  easy  to  see, 
why  Father  Venn  did  not  become  a  great  builder.  But  he 
foresaw  the  day  when  building  would  become  necessary,  and 
he  faithfully  and  scrupulously  prepared  the  way  for  his  suc- 
cessor, who  received  the  parish  from  his  hands  not  only 
unencumbered  with  debt,  but  with  $20,000.00  in  the  bank. 
Father  Venn  was  a  scholar.  The  training  of  the  priests 
in  the  early  days  in  this  country  necessarily  was  far  from 
thorough,  and  after  their  ordination  they  were  far  too  busy  to 
give  much  time  to  study  and  reading.  Father  Venn,  how 
ever,  in  the  midst  of  his  work  retained  his  love  for  the  science 
he  had  learned  in  his  youth.  He  was  very  fond  of  the  classics, 
Latin  and  Greek.  Unlike  many  other  immigrant  priests  he 
immediately  set  himself  to  master  the  English  language,  and 


FATHER  CLEMENT  VENN  49 

acquired  great  fluency  in  it.  On  account  of  this,  he  was 
accused  by  some  of  his  parishoners  of  attempting  to  make  the 
parish  Irish.  On  one  occasion  when  he  read  a  letter  from 
the  bishop  in  English,  some  of  the  kickers  walked  out  of  the 
church  saying:  "Das  darf  man  sich  nicht  gefallen  lassen." 

His  house  soon  became  the  rendezvous  of  the  litteratti 
among  the  clergy.  His  thorough  knowledge  of  theology 
and  his  sound  judgment  were  frequently  consulted  by  such 
men  as  Dr.  Butler  of  St.  Johns,  who  was  appointed  bishop, 
but  died  the  day  before  his  consecration;  Dr.  Barret  of  St. 
Stephans,  who  was  shot  by  a  fanatic;  Father  Burke  of  St. 
ColumkilTs,  and  Father  Dunne,  present  bishop  of  Peoria. 
Perhaps  the  most  learned  of  all  these  friends,  and  the  one  who 
deserved  the  most  credit  for  his  work  for  the  diocese  was  Dr. 
John  McMullen,  later  Bishop  of  Davenport,  Iowa.  The 
third  bishop  of  Chicago,  Dr.  Duggan,  became  insane.  Father 
McMullen  had  noticed  the  symptoms  of  approaching  insanity 
for  some  time,  and  fearing  the  confusion  it  might  bring  into 
the  diocese  had  consulted  his  fellow  priests,  among  them 
Father  Venn,  who  at  that  time  was  still  at  Metamora,  about 
the  best  course  to  pursue  in  this  fearful  state  of  affairs.  He 
was  advised  by  them  to  go  to  Rome  and  state  the  case.  At 
this  conference  he  had  become  acquainted  with  the  deep 
learning  and  sound  judgment  of  Father  Venn,  and  when 
Bishop  Foley  was  appointed  the  head  of  the  diocese,  even 
before  his  consecration,  at  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  McMullen, 
he  made  Father  Venn  pastor  of  St.  Boniface.  Shortly  after' 
wards  Dr.  McMullen  became  the  pastor  of  the  Holy  Name 
Cathedral.  He  chose  Father  Venn  as  his  confessor,  and 
became  a  frequent  caller  at  St.  Boniface. 

While  Father  Venn  was  at  Metamora,  his  father  died  in 
Germany  and  his  mother,  since  most  of  her  children  were 


Dr.  Carl  Venn 
Still  a  Resident  of  the  District  and  Parishioner 


50 


FATHER  CLEMENT  VENN  51 

in  America,  came,  to  make  her  home  with  Father  Venn. 
She  was  an  excellent  cook,  and  good  entertainer.  Dr. 
McMullen  and  the  other  priests  who  frequented  St.  Boni- 
face always  paid  their  respects  to  her,  and  her  excellent  table. 
She  died  May  1st,  1879.  In  her  last  illness  she  was  attended 
by  "Miss  Lizxie"  Salm  who  remained  the  housekeeper  of 
Father  Venn  until  his  resignation  in  1895. 

Another  brother,  Mr.  Charles  Venn,  born  April  2,  1844, 
had  come  to  this  country  in  1861.  Although  very  young, 
he  became  a  professor  at  a  boys'  school  in  St.  Paul.  This 
school  had  been  founded  by  Father  John  Ireland,  later  Arch- 
bishop of  St.  Paul,  who  had  been  ordained  in  1861  together 
with  Father  Theodore  Venn.  Father  Ireland  later  became 
chaplain  in  the  army,  and  the  school  was  discontinued.  The 
young  professor,  desirous  of  studying  medicine  then  came 
to  Chicago.  He,  however,  retained  the  friendship  of  Bishop 
Ireland  until  the  day  of  the  latter' s  death.  Bishop  Ireland 
never  failed  to  visit  Dr.  Chas.  Venn  when  he  came  through 
the  city.  Charles  Venn  entered  Rush  Medical  College  and 
after  obtaining  his  degree  spent  some  years  in  the  clinics  of 
Europe,  especially  Vienna.  He  was  a  favorite  student  of 
Virschow,  by  whom  he  was  entrusted  with  a  great  deal  of 
private  research  work.  At  that  time  the  miracles  of  Blessed 
Catherine  Emerich  were  attracting  attention  in  Europe, 
especially  in  Germany.  Dr.  Virschow,  who  was  an  unbeliever 
was  on  the  committee  of  investigation.  Upon  his  return  Dr. 
Venn,  who  was  a  staunch  defender  of  the  faith  asked  him, 
what  he  thought  of  the  miracles.  To  which  Virschow  reluc 
tantly  admitted,  that  they  were  something  he  could  not 
explain.  While  in  Europe,  Dr.  Venn  found  time  to  visit  the 
places  made  famous  by  the  reformation  of  Luther,  and  he  has 
kept  up  his  historical  interest  in  the  Reformation  all  his  life. 


52  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

Upon  his  return  to  America  he  was  made  Professor  of  Anat/ 
omy  in  Rush  Medical,  his  Alma  Mater.  He  immediately 
resigned  this  position  when  it  was  hinted  that  he  ought  to 
become  a  Free  Mason.  At  the  request  of  Father  Venn,  he  chose 
the  neighborhood  of  St.  Boniface  as  his  field  of  work,  and  in 
February,  1881,  married  Miss  Louise  Dinet,  the  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Dinet,  members  of  the  parish  since  its 
foundation.  Miss  Dinet,  however,  had  been  born  in  Belfort, 
France,  in  the  home  of  her  ancestors.  The  mother  of  the 
young  lady,  Mrs.  Adele  Dinet,  came  to  America  shortly  after 
the  first  church  was  built,  and  being  a  strict  Catholic,  went 
to  mass  the  first  Sunday.  She  was  put  out  of  one  pew  by  John 
Reisel,  and  prevented  from  entering  another  by  the  occupant 
and  owner,  but  was  finally  rescued  by  Mrs.  Splitthof,  well 
known  to  all  old  parishioners.  Mrs.  Splitthof  not  only  gave 
her  a  seat  in  her  own  pew,  but  secured  her  name  and  address 
and  eventually  enrolled  her  into  all  the  women's  societies. 
Mrs.  Dinet  spoke  no  German  and  Mrs.  Splitthof  spoke  only 
German.  But  for  almost  fifty  years  they  managed  to  get 
along.  The  only  misunderstandings  were  occasioned  by  the 
fact  that  Mrs.  Dinet  always  answered,  "Ja>  Ja,"  when  some 
times  Mrs.  Splitthof  expected  her  to  say,  "Nein."  Mrs.  Dinet 
died  in  1922  in  her  eightyseventh  year.  Her  name  is  pep 
petuated  in  the  church,  by  the  donation  of  four  windows, 
being  those  back  of  the  confessionals.  Her  husband  Joseph, 
who  died  in  1884  bequeathed  the  parish  church  $5,000.00. 
The  presence  in  the  parish  of  his  brother  and  his  family 
was  a  great  consolation  to  Father  Venn.  When  the  cares 
of  his  position  and  the  worries  from  the  opposition  pressed 
upon  him  too  heavily  he  always  found  rest  and  consolation 
there.  His  brother's  children  especially  brightened  his  life. 
They  are  Theodore,  Charles,  Henry,  and  Louise,  now  Mrs. 


FATHER  CLEMENT  VENN  53 

Paul  Juhnke.  The  children  of  the  parish  in  general  were  very 
dear  to  Father  Venn,  and  they  all  loved  him,  because  they 
knew  he  loved  them.  When  they  made  their  first  Holy  Com' 
munion,  which  was  on  Low  Sunday,  he  preached  three  times. 
(1)  After  the  children  entered  the  church;  "renewal  of  Bap' 
tismal  vows;11  (2)  After  the  reading  of  the  Gospel;  and  (3) 
just  before  Communion.  His  exhortations  to  the  young  never 
failed  to  bring  tears  to  the  eyes  of  old  and  young.  Father 
Venn  was  a  splendid  orator  on  all  occasions,  frequently 
mounting  the  heights  of  eloquence. 

In  1891  the  parish  had  increased  to  more  than  600  families; 
besides  his  own  people  Father  Venn  took  care  of  a  great  many 
of  the  parishioners  of  Holy  Trinity  Polish  Church,  which  in 
consequence  of  the  old  trouble  between  the  clergy  and  the 
laity  had  been  closed  for  18  years.  This  church  finally  was 
reopened  by  Msgr.  Satolli,  papal  delegate  at  the  time,  and 
entrusted  to  the  Holy  Cross  Fathers. 

On  acount  of  his  experience  with  the  picnics  of  the  Unter 
stuetz,ungS'Verein,  Father  Venn  never  favored  picnics  as  a 
source  of  parish  revenue.  But  he  did  have  many  Bazaars, 
which  were  generally  held  in  the  Northwest  Hall,  corner 
Cornell  and  Rose  Streets,  the  Aurora  Turner  Hall,  Mil" 
waukee  and  Huron;  one  even  was  held  down  town  in  the 
Metropolitan  Block.  While  his  enemies  were  untiring  in 
harrassing  him,  he  had  from  the  very  beginning  gained  the 
regard  and  the  love  of  the  vast  majority.  Among  these  a  few 
deserve  particular  mention.  Mrs.  Juliana  Schueler,  was  a 
wonderful  help  to  him  at  all  the  bazaars,  and  in  any  under- 
taking to  raise  money.  At  the  time  of  the  Bazaars  she  would 
get  a  wagon  and  travel  from  store  to  store,  even  down  town, 
and  bring  loads  of  articles,  bedspreads,  quilts,  curtains, 
chairs  and  other  furniture,  jewelry,  etc.,  to  the  hall.    The 


54  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

Demes  brothers,  George  and  John,  collected  the  pew  rent 
which  was  paid  quarterly  in  the  sacristy.  At  one  time  there 
was  a  difference  between  the  cash  and  the  accounts  of  three 
cents.  Father  Venn  and  the  Demes  brothers  worked  three 
evenings  trying  to  locate  the  mistake,  occasioned  by  the 
German  writing  of  the  number  7  which  had  made  it  a  4. 
Andrew  Sprengel,  was  another  pious  old  soul  who  went  to 
mass  every  day.  In  1894  a  fire  broke  out  in  Schuenemann's 
and  quickly  spread  to  the  roof  of  the  church.  In  putting  the 
fire  out,  one  of  the  fireman  broke  through  the  ceiling.  The 
insurance  company  awarded  $300.00  damage,  which  Andrew 
Sprengel  repaired  for  $12.00.  There  were  many  others  who 
at  various  times  distinguished  themselves  for  loyalty  to  their 
pastor  and  devotion  to  their  parish.  Many  of  their  names 
and  deeds  are  forgotten,  while  others  will  be  mentioned  else' 
where  in  this  book.  We  have  space  only  to  enumerate  the 
assistant  priests  during  his  time. 

The  baptismal  record  of  the  parish  shows  the  following 
signatures: — 

March  12th,  1865  to  April  7th,  1867,  Father  Phil 
Albrecht,  except  the  period  from  Feb.  18th,  to  March  17th, 
1866,  which  entries  are  signed  by  his  brother,  Max  Albrecht. 
During  this  period  there  were  a  total  of  220  baptisms.  The 
penmanship  of  Father  Albrecht  and  his  brother  is  very 
beautiful. 

From  April  7th,  1867  to  June  9th,  1867,  there  are  no 
entries  in  the  record.  From  June  9th,  to  June  30th,  there 
are  ten  entries  signed  by  D.  Niederkorn,  S.  J.  The  penman' 
ship  is  very  poor. 

From  July  6th,  1867  to  August  15th,  1869,  the  entries  are 
signed  by  J.  A.  Marshall,  a  total  of  360.  The  penmanship  is 
execrable. 


FATHER  CLEMENT  VENN  55 

From  Sept.  4th,  1869,  to  July  27th,  1895,  there  are  a  total 
of  6,651  baptisms.  The  entries  are  mostly  signed  by  Father 
Venn,  whose  penmanship,  though  by  no  means  beautiful  is 
always  legible.  This  gives  an  average  of  256  baptisms  a  year, 
and  indicates  a  very  large  parish.    The  largest  number  was  in 

1888,  viz.,  335. 

The  name  of  the  first  assistant,  H.  Bangen  appears  in  the 
book,  Feb.  22nd,  1878.  The  penmanship  is  legible,  but  not 
beautiful. 

On  April  22nd,  1883,  we  find  the  signature  of  John  M. 
Schaefer.    The  penmanship  is  legible. 

On  February  2nd,  1884,  the  name  of  Westharp,  begins  to 
appear.    The  penmanship  is  good. 

August  8th,  1887,  we  have  the  signature  of  P.  L.  Bier- 
mann,  whose  entries  are  exact  and  legible. 

The  entries  of  J.  Dickmann,  which  began,  August  5th, 

1889,  are  very  beautiful. 

The  entries  of  Joseph  Rempe,  the  first  of  which  appears, 
January  7th,  1 890  are  almost  illegible. 

The  first  entry  signed  by  Father  Albert  Evers,  as  assistant 
appears  Sept.  30th,  1890.  His  penmanship,  both  as  asistant 
and  later  as  pastor  is  abominable. 

On  Sept.  10th,  1891,  we  have  the  first  entry  by  A.  Wolf 
garten.    His  penmanship  is  fair,  and  the  entries  accurate. 

On  February,  21st,  1895,  the  name  J.  Meyer,  appears 
the  first  time.  His  penmanship  is  beautiful,  and  the  entries 
are  accurate. 

The  reason  for  the  prominence  given  to  the  penmanship  of 
the  pastors  and  assistants  of  the  parish  is  gratitude  on  one 
side  and  resentment  on  the  other,  since  this  chapter  is  written 
by  one  who  has  to  decipher  these  records  almost  every  day. 

Two  priests  of  the  parish  said  their  First  Holy  Mass  in  St. 


56  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

Boniface  Church  during  the  pastorate  of  Father  Venn.  They 
are  Father  Paul  Rosch  who  said  his  first  mass  on  June  24th, 
1895,  and  Father  J.  P.  Suerth  on  December  10th,  1893. 

In  the  62nd  year  of  his  life,  in  the  year  1895,  Father 
Venn  resigned  as  pastor  of  St.  Boniface.  As  his  successor,  he 
suggested  to  Archbishop  Feehan  one  of  his  former  assistants, 
Father  Albert  Evers.  Father  Venn  took  up  his  residence 
in  Germany.  On  three  different  occasions  he  revisited  his  old 
parish.  He  died  November  1 3th,  1911.  In  accordance  with 
his  wish  his  remains  were  brought  to  this  parish,  where  he 
had  labored  so  long  and  faithfully.  Archbishop  Quigley  sang 
the  funeral  mass,  and  Bishop  Edmund  Dunne  of  Peoria,  his 
old  friend,  preached  the  funeral  sermon  in  German.  With  a 
large  concourse  of  clergy  and  laity,  his  remains  were  interred 
in  St.  Boniface  cemetery,  where  they  await  the  day  of  Resur- 
rection. As  a  posthumous  token  of  affection  he  bequeathed 
$4,000.00  a  large  portion  of  his  estate  to  his  beloved  parish. 
Requiem  masses  are  said  every  year  for  the  repose  of  his  soul, 
on  the  13th  and  23  rd  of  November.  May  his  soul  rest  in 
peace. 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS 

ather  Albert  Evers  was  pastor  of  St.  Boni' 
face  from  August  3rd,  1895,  to  July  8th, 
1916. 

From  all  his  assistants,  he  was  chosen  by 
Father  Venn,  as  the  one  best  fitted  for  the 
immediate  needs  of  the  parish. 

He  was  born  in  Warburg,  Westphalia, 
July  10th,  1863.  He  made  his  classics  in 
Germany,  but  Philosophy  and  Theology,  in  St.  Francis,  Wis- 
consin. He  was  ordained  by  Archbishop  Heiss,  in  the  semi' 
nary  chapel,  June  24th,  1887.  He  said  his  first  Holy  Mass 
in  St.  Nicholas'  Church,  Aurora,  111.,  whose  pastor,  Father 
Schnueckel,  had  been  his  friend,  and  whose  first  assistant  he 
became. 

About  September  30th,  1890,  he  was  appointed  as  assist' 
ant  at  St.  Boniface  Church.  A  little  less  than  a  year  later  he 
was  appointed  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Con' 
ception,  in  Kankakee,  111.  He  was  in  Kankakee  a  little  less 
than  four  years.  During  this  time,  he  built  up  the  parish 
spiritually  and  financially,  and  endeared  himself  so  much  to 
all  the  people  of  the  town  irrespective  of  creed,  that  today 
after  more  than  thirty  years,  he  is  still  remembered. 

His  skill  at  raising  money,  is  illustrated  by  the  following 
story.  At  a  Fair  for  the  benefit  of  the  parish,  he  had  a  popu' 
larity  contest  between  a  certain  Mr.  Kruse,  a  wealthy  lumber 
man,  and  another  man  of  the  parish.  Mr.  Kruse  seems  not 
to  have  been  overgenerous,  but  Father  Evers  resolved  that 
he  would  make  up  for  past  remissness  this  time.    The  other 

57 


Reverend  Albert  Evers 
Fourth  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface  Church 


58 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  59 

man  whose  name  is  forgotten,  had  a  great  many  friends,  but 
not  so  much  money.  As  the  contest  progressed  Father  Evers 
met  Mr.  Kruse  one  day  and  told  him  that  the  other  man  was 
getting  far  ahead  of  him.  Wounded  in  his  pride,  Mr.  Kruse 
gave  him  fifty  dollars  to  overcome  the  lead  of  his  rival.  The 
following  day,  another  member  of  the  parish  instructed  by 
Father  Evers,  remarked  to  Kruse,  that  unless  something  was 
done,  he  would  fall  far  behind,  and  Kruse  came  across  with 
another  fifty.  This  ruse  was  used  constantly  until  the  end 
of  the  contest,  when  to  the  amazement  of  Kruze  and  the  mirth 
of  the  whole  town,  he  was  over  eight  hundred  dollars  ahead. 
For  a  few  weeks  after  the  event,  Mr.  Kruse  was  seen  walking 
the  streets  of  the  town  shaking  his  had  and  muttering  to  him' 
self,  "Oh,  Kruse,  Kruse!'' 

The  reason  which  induced  Father  Venn  to  suggest  Father 
Evers  as  his  successor  was  his  strong  character.  He  was  de' 
termined,  strong  and  self 'willed,  caring  little  for  opposition. 
A  character  of  that  kind  was  needed  in  St.  Boniface,  if  the 
buildings,  which  had  to  be  erected  soon,  should  be  worth 
while. 

Father  Evers  became  the  pastor  of  St.  Boniface,  August 
3rd,  1895.  In  October  of  1896,  the  old  school  had  been 
removed  and  the  new  one  was  ready  for  occupancy.  It  con' 
tains  twelve  large  classrooms,  perfect  and  up-tcdate  even 
now,  thirty  years  afterwards,  the  top  floor  contains  a  large 
entertainment  hall  fitted  out  with  a  good  stage,  a  smaller 
society  hall  seating  about  a  hundred  people,  and  a  large  kit' 
chen.  The  basement  contained  club  rooms,  a  bowling  alley, 
and  the  heating  plant.  The  cost  of  the  building  was 
$50,000.00.  It  could  not  be  built  today  for  less  than 
$300,000.00  The  expectation  of  Father  Venn  had  been 
realized.    This  indeed  was  rapid  work. 


60  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

On  March  2nd,  1896,  and  on  April  28th,  of  the  same 
year,  the  following  items  occur  in  the  expenditures:  Jacob 
Geneser  for  land  $6,000.00;  Ferdinand  Degen  for  property 
$3,350.00.  By  these  purchases,  Father  Evers  acquired  the 
property  on  Noble  St.  north  of  the  alley,  and  made  an  outlet 
for  the  alley  on  Walton  St.  By  city  ordinance,  he  secured 
possession  of  the  alley,  and  enough  property  to  build  the 
magnificent  church  and  rectory  he  had  in  view. 

After  a  short  breathing  time  he  began  the  building  of  the 
new  rectory  and  church.  The  rectory  and  the  north  end 
of  the  basement  of  the  church  were  built  first,  so  that  the 
basement  could  be  used  for  services  after  the  old  church  had 
been  torn  down.  A  good  view  of  the  house  is  obtained  from 
the  picture  in  this  book  of  the  Laying  of  the  Corner  Stone 
by  Bishop  Muldoon,  on  September  7th,  1902. 

The  ground  for  the  new  church  was  broken,  March  1st, 
1902,  and  on  Christmas  day,  1903,  the  first  solemn  high  mass 
was  sung  in  the  new  edifice.  The  June,  1904,  "Pfarrbote  der 
St.  Bonifacius  Gemeinde"  contains  the  following: 

"In  August,  1895,  Rev.  Albert  Evers  was  called  from  the 
Immaculate  Conception  Church,  Kankakee,  Illinois,  to  fill  the 
vacancy  made  by  the  resignation  of  Father  Venn.  He  is 
progressive  and  energetic.  He  has  a  host  of  friends  and 
admirers,  who  are  staunch  and  loyal,  because  of  his  zeal, 
charity,  and  strength  of  character.  .  .  .  Upon  entering 
his  new  field  of  labor,  he  began  to  infuse  new  life  into  the 
various  societies.  When  these  were  newly  invigorated,  he 
turned  his  special  attention  to  the  school.  'We  must  have 
a  new  school,'  he  said.  kIf  once  the  school  is  built,  the 
church  will  follow  as  a  matter  of  course.'  The  school  build' 
ing  in  all  its  detail  work  and  practical  arrangement  is  one  of 
the  best  in  the  city.    As  far  as  the  course  of  education  is  con' 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  61 

cerned,  it  is  only  necessary  to  state,  that  since  1868  it  is  in 
charge  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Francis,  of  Joliet.  They  are  so 
well  known  as  an  educational  body,  that  their  name  itself  is 
guarantee  for  success  and  progress.  Besides  the  class  rooms, 
the  building  contains  a  bowling  alley,  club  rooms,  and  large 
entertainment  hall.  It  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $50,000. 
.  .  .  Hardly  had  this  task  been  completed,  when  the  ener- 
getic pastor  turned  his  attention  to  the  erection  of  a  new 
church.  The  parish  is  one  of  the  most  flourishing,  of  the 
oldest  and  of  the  most  prominent,  and  the  temple  of  worship 
should  be  in  keeping.  .  .  .  The  church  is  a  magnificent 
structure.  Large,  stately  and  imposing,  it  compares  in  archi- 
tectural beauty,  with  the  finest  churches  in  the  west.  One 
of  the  most  comfortable  rectories  in  the  city  adjoins  it  to  the 
north,  costing  with  the  church  itself  $110,000.  .  .  .  The 
edifice  was  designed  by  Henry  J.  Schlacks  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  pastor.  It  covers  an  area  of  80x2 1 8  feet  and  is  of 
Roman  style  of  architecture.  It  is  constructed  of  pressed 
brick  with  Bedford  stone  trimmings,  tile  roof  and  copper 
cornices,  and  the  interior  columns  and  the  roof  trusses  are  of 
steel.  The  main  tower  of  the  belfry  is  over  150  feet  high. 
.  .  .  The  interior  of  the  church  is  160  feet  deep,  40  feet 
wide  and  52  feet  high,  and  has  a  seating  capacity  of  900.  The 
windows  and  altars  are  temporary,  and  will  be  removed  in 
the  near  future,  to  be  replaced  by  new  ones  to  be  imported 
from  Munich.' '    So  far  the  article  from  the  "Pfarrbote." 

Another  article  says:  "Mit  gerechtem  Stolze  schaut  die 
St.  Bonifacius  Gemeinde  auf  ihr  neues  Gottes  Haus.  Es  ist 
eine  Perle  der  Baukunst.  Sein  Aeuszeres  fesselt  den  Blick  des 
Vorbeigehenden  und  fordert  ihn  gleichsam  heraus  mit  kritis- 
chem  Auge  das  Ganze  zu  mustern  um  irgend  einen  Fehler 
zu  entdecken.    In  der  Naehe  der  Kirche  werden  die  Schritte 


The  Third  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface  Church  Grouped  with 
His  and  Father  Evers'  Curates 


Reverend  Henry  Hauser 


Reverend  Wm.  Fab< 


Reverend  Jos.  Meyer 
Reverend  Clement  Venn 
Reverend  Leon  Linden  Reverend  F.  A.  Rempe 


62 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  63 

unwillkuerlich  langsamer  und  wenige  gehen  vorueber  ohne 
dem  imposanten  Bau  einige  Aufmerksamkeit  2iu  schenken,  ja, 
die  meisten  bleiben  stehen,  urn  mit  mehr  Musse  dieses  Kunst' 
werk  betrachten  su  koennen.  Doch,  ob  man  von  den  Grund' 
mauern  bis  sur  Turmesspitse  seine  Blicke  pruefend  wandern 
laes2;t,  ueberall  begegnet  einem  dieselbe  Soliditaet,  gemildert 
nur  durch  die  Reinheit  and  Schoenheit  der  Formen.  Ernst, 
Ruhe,  Mass — die  Charaktereigenschaften  des  romanischen 
Baustils,  sind  hier  eingepraegt,  und  machen  den  gansen  Bau 
su  einem  wuerdigen  Dollmetscher  des  Ernstes,  der  Ruhe,  der 
Ordnung,  die  in  jener  Religion  herrschen,  fuer  deren  Gottes' 
dienst  er  bestimmt  ist.  Und  tritt  man  ein  durch  das  herrliche 
steinerne  Portal,  an  der  Taufkapelle,  mit  ihrer  kunstvoll  ge' 
wirkten  eisernen  Gitterthuer  vorbei,  wird  man  gefesselt  von 
der  Fuelle  des  Lichtes,  von  dem  Reichtum  und  der  Schoenheit 
der  Architektur  von  dem  edlen  Ernst,  die  den  weiten  Raum 
durchwehen  und  beleben — und  lebhaft  kann  man  sich  vor- 
stellen,  in  welcher  Pracht  dieses  Gotteshaus  einst  prangen 
wird  wenn  noch  Malerei  und  Sculptur  ihre  Erseugnisse  dort 
glaensen  lassen.  .  .  .  Und  doch,  trots  alien  Glances,  aller 
Schoenheit,  fehlt  es  dem  edlen  Bau  an  etwas  Wesentlichem. 
In  den  Augen  der  Kirche  ist  er  noch  ein  Leib  ohne  Seele. 
Denn  hoeheres  Leben  hat  ihn  von  der  Mauer  bis  sur  Turmes' 
spitse  noch  nicht  durchschauert,  Gottes  Odem  weht  noch 
nicht  durch  seine  geraeumigen  Hallen.  Es  fehlt  ihm  die 
kirchliche  Weihe,  jene  Weihe,  die  diesen  kunstvoll  errich' 
teten  Bau  su  einer  Kirche,  sum  Hause  Gottes,  sum  Vorhof 
des  Himmels  umbilden  soil.  Doch  auch  fuer  ihn  ist  bereits 
der  Schoepfungsmorgen,  der  Pfingsttag  angebrochen.  Am 
5ten  Juni,  dem  Gedenktag  des  hi.  Bonifacius,  des  Patrons  der 
Gemeinde,  an  dem  herrlichen  Feiertag  der  Kirche — Fron' 
leichnamstag — soil  durch  bischoefliche  Haende  Gottes  Segen 


64  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

in  den  neuen  Bau  geleitet  werden,  urn  dort  m  einer  neuen 
Heilsquelle  sich  zu  sammeln.  .  .  .  Denkwuerdig  wie  kein 
anderer  ist  darum  dieser  Tag  fuer  die  St.  Bonifacius  Ge- 
meinde — denkwuerdig  nicht  allein  wegen  der  hohen  Wuer' 
dentraeger,  welche  mit  ihrer  Gegenwart  das  neue  Gotteshaus 
beehren  werden,  der  groszen  Anzahl  von  Priestern,  welche 
der  Feier  beiwohnen  werden;  sondern  vor  allem  weil  'heute 
ist  diesem  Hause  Heil  widerfahren,'  'Hie  est  domus  Dei,  et 
porta  coeli.1  " 

In  order  that  proper  credit  may  be  given  to  the  parish' 
ioners  of  those  days,  who  actively  supported  their  pastor,  and 
made  the  building  of  this  beautiful  church  possible,  the  names 
of  the  notable  contributors  as  they  appear  for  the  year  1902 
are  given:  Theodor  Mieling,  $50;  John  Wagner,  $25;  Frank 
Kongorski,  $25;  John  Nabor,  $20;  Johan  Mathia,  $25;  Anna 
Rohold,  $25;  Frank  Leermann,  $25;  Albert  Veitle,  $20; 
Frank  Grun,  $50;  A.  Wesemann,  $25;  Kallas,  $40;  Gustav 
Quiatkowski,  $20;  Jacob  Blume,  $20;  Paul  Weiss,  $25;  Bern' 
hard  Stegmeier,  $25;  Andreas  Stenzel,  $25;  Paul  Schroeder, 
$50;  Alb  Golnik,  $100;  Kiesling,  $25;  Mrs.  Lauermann, 
$100;  Ignats  Kuschinski,  $30;  Frank  Staal,  $20;  Guerten, 
$35;  Peter  Brod,  $20;  Kallas,  $25;  Guerten,  $25;  Peter  Ham- 
mer,  $20;  Albert  Orzjada,  $25;  Kreft,  $45;  Wiseski,  $20;  Ch. 
Golly,  $50;  Joseph  Moeller,  $25;  Joseph  Schufreider,  $25; 
Franz  Musolf,  $25;  John  Bredel,  $30;  Jacob  Schmidt,  $25; 
Andreas  Behrendt,  $25;  Gertrude  Schabelski,  $30;  John 
Wruck,  $20;  Peter  Steib,  $25;  Simon  Sass,  $25;  Christ  Fied- 
ler, $20;  Jacob  Nelles,  $150;  Frank  Kolakowski,  $25;  Jacob 
Barski,  $50;  Hieronymus  Gerlach,  $20;  Jacob  Hoffmann, 
$20;  Johann  Sowka,  $50;  Helena  Braun,  $20;  Julius  Weske, 
$50. 

That  the  priests  had  their  difficulties  also  then  can  be  in' 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  65 

ferred  from  the  following  sermon  which  was  preached  by 
Father  F.  A.  Rempe  Sunday  evening,  May  25th,  1903.  "Es 
ist  dieser  Tag  ein  denkwuerdiger  in  der  Geschichte  der  St. 
Bonifacius  Gemeinde.  Wir  wollen  heute  Abschied  nehmen 
von  einem  anderen  Freunde,  von  diesem  alten  Gotteshause. 
Zum  leUten  Male  hat  sich  heute  Abend  diese  ganz,e  Ge' 
meinde  versammelt  zur  oeffentlichen  Andacht  innerhalb 
seiner  morschen  Mauern,  und  unter  seinem  ehrwuerdigen 
Dache.  In  wenigen  Tagen  wird  es  unter  dem  Schwunge  der 
Arbeiter  hinsinken,  um  fernerhin  nur  in  der  Erinnerung  zu 
bestehen.  Nicht  mit  Verachtung  wollen  wir  es  niederreiszen, 
nicht  ohne  Ehrfucht  sein  Ende  betrachten  sondern  ehrer- 
bietig  wie  am  Grabe  eines  teuren  Freundes  wollen  wir  die 
Schluszfeier  begehen;  denn  wir  koennen  nicht  vergessen, 
welch  heiligem  Dienste  es  geweiht,  welche  Erinnerungen  es 
uns  schauen  machen,  welchen  Segen  es  uns  gespendet.  Seit 
dem  5.  April,  1865,  da  es  hier  von  den  ersten  deutschen 
Ansiedlern  dieser  Gegend  errichtet  wurde,  bis  auf  den  heuti' 
gen  Tag  hat  dieses  Gotteshaus  den  erhabensten  Dienst  ge' 
leistet — es  war  trotz  seiner  Armut  ein  Haus  des  Allerhoech- 
sten,  die  Wohnung  Gottes  unter  uns  Menschen.  Hier  hat 
es  Gott  gefallen,  den  Tron  seiner  Gnade  auszuschlagen  und 
segnend  unter  uns  zu  weilen — darum  ist  dieses  Haus  ein  heil' 
iger  Ort.  Darum  habt  ihr  es  hoch  in  Ehren  gehalten.  Nicht 
genug  kann  dies  z,u  Eurem  Lobe  hervorgehoben  werden,  dasz 
obwohl  es  gewiss  nicht  angenehm  ist,  dass  andere  juengere 
Gemeinden  schoenere  Gotteshaeuser  haben  und  veraechtlich 
auf  Euch  herabschauen,  Ihr  dennoch  treu  zu  dieser  Gemeinde 
gehalten,  dass  ihr  Euch  um  dieses  Kleinod  geschaart,  um 
eine  Gemeinde  z,u  bilden,  welche  z,u  einer  der  Bluehendsten 
deutschen  Gemeinden  unserer  Stadt  geworden  ist. 

"Dieses  Gotteshaus  ist  Euch  teuer,  weil  es  verknuepft  ist 


66 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


The  Church  and  New  School 


mit  den  denkwuerdigsten  Tagen  Eures  eigenen  Lebens  und 
dem  Eurer  Familie.  Viele  von  Euch  sind  hier  Kinder  Gottes 
geworden  durch  die  hi.  Taufe,  viele  haben  hier  zuerst  ein 
reumuetiges  Gestaendniss  ihrer  Fehler  abgelegt  sur  Vergeb' 
ung  ihrer  Suenden.  Hier  ist  suerst  das  Brod  des  Lebens  ge' 
reicht  worden,  hier  seid  Ihr  nach  Handauflegung  des  Bischofs 
Streiter  Gottes  geworden,  von  dieser  Kirche  kam  der  Priester 
zu  Euren  Kranken  und  in  der  letsten  Stunde,  von  dieser 
Kirche  aus  sind  Kinder,  Geschwistern,  Eltern,  Freunde  be' 
graben  worden.  Im  Winter  und  Sommer,  in  Regen  und 
Schnee,  hat  diese  Kirche  Euch  auf  genommen,  ihre  Priester  zu 
Eurer  Hilfe  bereitgestanden.  Diese  Kirche  war  Zeuge  vieler 
glaensender  Festtage,  feierliche  Prosessionen,  erhabener 
Handlungen,  ergreifender  Missionen,  Primissfeierlichkeiten 
und  dergleichen  mehr.  In  Freud  und  Leid  seid  Ihr  zu  dieser 
Kirche  geeilt.  Wer  zaehlt  die  Gnaden,  die  hier  unsichtbar 
Eure  Seelen  erfuellt,  die  Gnade  der  Erleuchtung  durch  das 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  67 

Wort  Gottes,  der  Kraeftigung  durch  die  hi.  Sakramente,  der 
Bekerung  durch  Missionen  und  gute  Beichten,  der  Beharr 
lichkeit  durch  die  mannigfaltigen  Gnadenschaetse  Gottes. 
Kann  es  uns  da  Wunder  nehmen,  dass  diese  Kirche  trots  ihrer 
Armut  Euch  ans  Hers  gewachsen  ist  und  dass  Ihr  nicht  ohne 
Wehmut  susehet  wie  diese  Staette  des  Segens  und  der  Gnade 
in  einen  Truemmerhaufen  verwandelt  wird,  um  dann  gans  su 
verschwinden? 

"Doch  Ihr  wisset  es,  es  geschieht  ja  nicht,  weil  wir  kein 
Verstaendniss  haben  fuer  seine  glorreiche  Vergangenheit, 
nicht  weil  wir  einen  hi.  Ort  nicht  gebuehrend  ehren,  son' 
dern,  weil  es  notwendig  ist,  um  einem  neuen  und  wuerdig- 
eren  Gotteshause  Plats  su  machen.  An  der  Staette  des  alten 
Gotteshauses  soil  ein  neuer  herrlicher  Tempel  erbaut  werden; 
Gott  sur  Ehre,  unserer  hi.  Kirche  sur  Zierde,  Euch  su  mv 
sterblichem  Ruhme. 

"Viele  Jahre  habt  Ihr  Euch  darnacht  gesehnt,  viele  Jahre 
grosse  Opfer  gebracht.  Einen  geistigen  Tempel  habt  Ihr 
daher  schon  laengst  errichtet;  die  St.  Bonifacius  Gemeinde  ist 
bekannt  fuer  ihr  reges  religioeses  Leben,  Ihr  seid  bekannt  fuer 
Eure  Froemmigkeit  und  Euren  hi.  Wandel. 

"Mit  froher  Hoffnung  im  Hersen  blicken  wir  den  grossen 
Tag  entgegen,  da  wir  sum  ersten  Male  eintreten  koennen  in 
jenes  schoene  Haus,  welches  durch  Eure  Muehe  und  Opfer 
aufgebaut  werden  soil.  Bis  jener  Tag  kommt,  sollt  Ihr  treu 
ausharren,  ruestig,  freudig  weiterarbeiten.  Ihr  sollt  beten 
um  ein  glueckliches  Gelingen  dieser  grossen  Arbeit,  denn  an 
Gottes  Segen  ist  ja  alles  gelegen.  Ihr  sollt  auch  keine  Muehe 
und  Opfer  scheuen,  um  die  Koston  sum  Bau  herbeisutragen. 
Jetst  besonders  da  wir  uns  mit  anderen  Raeumlichkeiten  be 
jetst  besonders  da  wir  uns  mit  anderen  Raeumlichkeiten  be' 
helfen  muessen,  sollt  Ihr  nicht  diese  Gemeinde  verlassen,  um 


68  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

in  einer  anderen  Kirche  den  Gottesdienst  beisuwohnen,  oder 
viel  weniger  noch  den  Gottesdienst  ganz  versaeumen,  und 
bleibet  treu  der  Gemeinde,  bringet  diese  kleinen  Opfer  und 
Gott  wird  Euch  lohnen. 

"Seid  einig  wie  im  Glauben,  so  auch  im  Streben  und  Ar- 
beiten  fuer  das  Wohl  dieser  Gemeinde.  Bleibet  ihr  treu 
Eurer  Kirche,  die  Eure  Familie  geworden;  schaaret  um  Euch 
hier  in  dieser  Gemeinde  Eure  Freunde  und  Verwandte, 
welche  die  alte  Heimat  verlassen,  fuehret  sie  ein  bei  uns, 
damit  diese  wie  sie  frueher  gewesen  auch  in  Zukunft  sein 
sollen,  ein  Bollwerk  unseres  Glaubens,  und  Sitten  und  Tugen- 
den  Eures  alten  Vaterlandes. 

"Seid  Ihr  so  gesinnt,  dann  wird  Erfolg  Eure  Muehe 
kroenen.  Was  schadet  es  dann,  wenn  einige  unserer  Arbeiter 
teilnahmslos  oder  gar  unwillig  gegenueberstehen.  Wo  guter 
Wille  und  aufrichtige  opferwillige  Arbeit  und  Gottes  Segen, 
da  wird,  da  muss  der  Tag  kommen,  wo  unser  Werk  glueck- 
lich  vollendet  ist." 

This  clever  sermon  is  given  in  its  entirety,  not  merely  be- 
cause it  is  an  oratorical  gem,  worthy  of  perpetuation,  for  the 
things  it  says,  but  historically  for  the  things  it  leaves  to  con- 
jecture. We  can  easily  see  that  there  was  opposition  to  the 
tearing  down  of  the  old  church  and  to  the  erection  of  the 
new.  We  can  see  that  this  opposition  was  formidable 
enough,  either  to  be  coaxed  into  co-operation  or  to  be  shamed 
into  silence.  We  can  see  also  that  the  grim  specter,  that  in 
coming  years  almost  brought  the  parish  to  extinction,  had 
already  then  cast  the  shadow  of  fear  upon  the  pastor  and 
his  dwindling  flock. 

But  before  we  pass  over  to  the  study  of  this  shadow,  let  us 
tarry  awhile  with  the  contemplation  of  the  parish  in  its 
halcyon  days. 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS 


69 


Dedication  of  the  New  Church,  1904,  by  Right  Reverend  Archbishop  Quigley 


On  June  5th,  1904,  the  solemn  dedication  of  the  church 

took  place.     The  next  day  all  the  city  papers  featured  an 

account  of  the  proceedings.     The  report  of  the  Chicago 

Examiner  is  given,  as  an  example: 

"Through  crowded  streets,  decorated  with  flags,  banners  and 
evergreens,  30,000  men  marched  yesterday  as  a  part  of  the  cere- 
monies dedicating  the  new  St.  Boniface  Catholic  Church,  Noble  and 
Cornell  Streets. 

"It  was  one  of  the  most  impressive  religious  spectacles  in  the  his- 
tory of  Chicago. 

"Assisting  Archbishop  Quigley  in  the  ceremonies  of  the  day  were 
Bishop  Muldoon,  the  Rev.  M.  J.  Marsile  of  St.  Viateur's  College,  as 
deacon  of  honor;  the  Rev.  Joseph  Rainor  of  St.  Francis,  Wis.;  the 
Rev.  Francis  Rempe  of  Blue  Island;  Francis  Barry,  H.  J.  Dorney  and 
the  Rev.  J.  Hausser  of  Chicago;  the  Rev.  M.  J.  Fitzsimmons,  as 
master  of  ceremonies,  and  Archbishop  Messmer  of  Milwaukee,  who 
preached  the  dedication  sermon. 


70 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


"Only  a  small  number  of  the  vast  throng  who  participated  in  and 
witnessed  the  pageant  could  get  inside  the  church,  but  when  the 
great  organ  pealed  forth  the  opening  number,  announcing  the  begin- 
ning of  the  ceremonies,  the  thousands  who  crowded  about  the  edifice 
removed  their  hats  and  bowed  their  heads  in  reverenc. 

"The  new  church  was  literary  covered  with  banners  and  flags, 
while  the  interior  was  profusely  decorated  with  roses  and  lilies. 

"The  dedication  of  the  house  of  worship  took  place  in  the  fore- 
noon and  at  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  equally  impressive  services 
were  conducted  in  confirmation  of  230  boys  and  girls. 


Jacob  Nelles 


"The  confirmation  ceremonies  were  conducted  by  Bishop  Mul- 
doon. 

"The  great  parade,  which  took  place  at  1  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
was  given  as  a  personal  mark  of  honor  to  Archbishop  Quigley. 

"It  was  made  up  from  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  Knights  of 
Columbus,  Knights  of  St.  John  and  Knights  of  America  and  over  a 
hundred  other  societies. 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  71 

"The  paraders  wore  brilliant  uniforms,  and  as  they  marched 
through  the  crowded  thoroughfares  evergreen  branches,  flowers  and 
banners  were  waved  in  their  honor. 

"The  procession  started  from  the  church  at  sharply  1  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon.  The  march  was  made  west  to  Ashland  Avenue,  north 
to  Division  Street,  east  to  Holt  Avenue,  north  to  West  North 
Avenue,  east  to  Noble  Street,  and  thence  south  to  the  church. 

"A  feature  of  the  gorgeous  parade  was  a  fife  and  dnim  corps  com' 
posed  of  300  boys  belonging  to  the  United  States  Juniors. 

"The  parade  was  divided  into  five  divisions,  under  the  direction 
of  Chief  Marshal  Jacob  Nelles  and  Assistants  Joseph  Grein,  Dr.  J. 
Straten,  Peter  Biron,  Peter  Mueller  and  Adam  Jaeger.  Organizations 
from  Joliet,  Aurora,  Kankakee,  Elgin  and  Milwaukee  were  in  line. 

"At  10  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  just  before  the  dedication  sermon 
by  Archbishop  Messmer  of  Milwaukee,  high  pontifical  mass  was 
intoned  by  Archbishop  Quigley. 

"In  his  sermon  Archbishop  Messmer  in  eloquent  terms  spoke  of 
the  wonderful  good  that  the  dedication  of  such  an  edifice  as  St. 
Boniface's  would  accomplish.  He  congratulated  the  parishioners  on 
the  beautiful  and  costly  structure  that  had  been  made  possible 
through  their  efforts. 

"The  Archbishop  also  paid  a  high  tribute  to  the  untiring  efforts 
of  Father  Evers,  pastor  of  the  St.  Boniface  parish.  Archbishop  Mess- 
mer then  "spoke  of  the  great  spiritual  good  that  such  a  church  and 
such  a  pastor  could  accomplish. 

"Organist  John  Stemper  led  a  perfectly  trained  chorus  of  over  250 
voices  and  also  directed  the  orchestra.  Miss  Frances  Weber,  Miss 
Rose  Keisling  and  Miss  Rose  Marino  were  the  soloists. 

"Following  the  dedication  a  public  reception  in  honor  of  Arch- 
bishop Quigley  was  given,  at  which  Miss  Christine  Weske,  Julius 
Weske  and  John  Fensterle  spoke  on  behalf  of  the  various  organiza- 
tions of  the  parish. 

"Prior  to  the  confirmation  services  in  the  afternoon  Bishop  Mul- 
doon  spoke  enthusiastically  of  the  new  edifice,  which,  he  said,  would 
be  productive  of  great  good  in  the  part  of  the  city  in  which  it  is 
located. 

"  kI  want  to  congratulate  the  pastor  of  this  parish,1  he  said  to  the 
vast  throng  that  gathered  in  the  great  new  church  building.  'Father 
Evers  has  done  a  wonderful  work  here  in  this  part  of  Chicago. 

k  kI  want  to  compliment  with  equal  fervor  the  worthy  and  heroic 
assistants  who  have  stood  by  him  shoulder  to  shoulder  in  the  struggle 
for  the  magnificent  edifice  which  is  dedicated  to  the  work  of  our 
great  church  today. 


72  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

"  Tt  is  a  wonderful  edifice  which  you  have  opened  here  in  this 
thickly  populated  part  of  the  city,  and  I  am  free  to  say  it  is  nothing 
less  than  an  epoch  in  the  Catholic  church  history  of  Chicago. 

1  Tn  this  community  in  which  it  is  located  it  is  bound  to  enthuse 
a  good  Catholic  spirit  which  will  be  productive  of  good. 

"  T  hope  you  will  go  on  in  your  grand  and  noble  work  and  I 
trust  that  ere  long  I  shall  have  the  great  pleasure  of  witnessing  the 
consecration  of  St.  Boniface  Church.' 

"Then  turning  to  the  white  clad  children  before  him,  Bishop  Mul- 
doon  said: 

'*  'As  it  is  necessary  for  a  machine  to  pass  through  a  great  number 
of  workmen's  hands  before  it  is  completed,  so  it  is  necessary  for 
your  spiritual  self  to  pass  through  different  stages  of  perfecting,  and 
today  you  are  going  to  receive  a  very  important  sign  of  spiritual 
growth. 

'  'You  should  realize  this  and  prepare  yourself  to  be  in  a  sympa- 
thetic mood  to  gain  its  greatest  benefits.  The  gift  you  receive  this 
afternoon  is  infinitely  greater  than  any  which  the  world  can  ever 
give,  and,  after  you  leave  here,  you  will  never  be  the  same  as  you 
were  yesterday.  This  will  give  you  strength,  and  strength  is  what 
you  need,  so  that  you  can  say  "No"  to  temptation.1 

"There  was  a  banquet  for  the  clergy  last  night,  at  which  the 
principal  address  was  made  by  Archbishop  Messmer. 

"While  St.  Boniface  is  a  German  Roman  Catholic  Church,  the 
ceremonies  throughout  the  day  were  participated  in  by  Catholics  of 
all  nationalities. 

"Polish,  Italian,  French  and  Bohemian,  in  fact,  Catholics  of  many 
other  nationalities  took  prominent  parts,  not  only  in  the  parade,  but 
in  all  the  ceremonies  of  the  day. 

"Invitations  had  been  sent  out  to  430  Catholic  societies  in  Chi- 
cago and  vicinity,  and  of  this  number  over  half  were  represented  in 
the  parade  and  at  the  services. 

"The  new  church  is  one  of  the  finest  in  Chicago.  It  cost  $125,000. 
The  schoolhouse  and  convent  adjoining  it  cost  $50,000  and  $15,000 
respectively.  The  rectory,  which  was  a  gift  of  the  parishioners  to  the 
Rev.  Albert  Evers,  pastor  of  the  church,  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
Chicago. 

"The  new  church  covers  an  area  of  80x218  feet  and  is  built  in 
Roman  style  of  architecture,  of  pressed  brick,  with  Bedford  stone 
trimmings  and  copper  cornices. 

"Its  construction  was  commenced  nearly  two  years  ago  under  the 
direction  of  the  pastor. 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  73 

"Although  the  interior  decorations  were  not  finished  until  a  few 
weeks  ago,  the  church  was  ready  for  occupancy  last  Christmas. 

"This  is  the  second  church  the  priests  of  St.  Boniface  parish  have 
built  at  the  same  location.  The  original  was  erected  in  1864  as  a 
branch  of  St.  Joseph's  parish,  and  was  torn  down  to  make  room  for 
the  new  structure. 

"Since  the  Rev.  A.  Evers,  the  present  pastor,  has  taken  charge  of 
the  congregation  he  has  succeeded  in  erecting  a  $40,000  parochial 
school  building,  a  rectory  and  the  present  magnificent  church.  Father 
Evers  is  assisted  in  his  work  by  the  Rev.  Leon  Linden  and  the  Rev. 
J.  Hausser." 

The  church,  however,  was  in  a  very  incomplete  state  as  far 
as  furnishings  were  concerned.  We  can  imagine  that  Father 
Evers,  would  not  be  contended  long  with  this  condition.  So 
during  the  following  years,  we  see  one  bit  of  furniture  added 
after  the  other,  all  of  the  same  excellence  and  in  keeping  with 
the  church  itself.  Beginning  with  the  sacristy,  we  have  the 
vestment  case  and  the  vesting  table,  a  magnificent  piece  of 
work,  and  admirably  suited  for  its  purpose.  In  these  years 
used  on  Christmas  and  Easter,  and  Corpus  Christi,  and  the 
were  purchased  the  cloth  of  gold  vestments,  one  set  white, 
other  set  red,  used  on  Pentecost.  If  these  vestments  were 
bought  today,  their  cost  would  be  no  less  than  $5,000.  In 
the  sanctuary  were  placed  the  sedilia  and  pulpit,  both  of  fine 
carved  oak,  and  the  wonderfully  carved  communion  railing, 
all  in  keeping  with  the  solidity  and  restful  grace  of  the  edifice. 
During  this  time  also  date  the  stained  glass  windows  of  the 
sanctuary,  representing  the  Evangelists  and  the  Doctors  of 
the  Church,  and  the  rose  window  in  the  organ  loft  with  the 
beautiful  picture  of  St.  Cecilia. 

The  oaken  pews,  beautiful  in  their  strength  and  simplicity, 
were  in  place  the  day  of  the  dedication;  but  the  solid  oak  con' 
fessionals,  with  their  symbolic  carvings  were  acquired  later. 
Then  came  the  statues  of  St.  Francis  of  Assisi,  and  St, 


Bridesmaids  and  Flower  Girls 
Father  Evers'  Silver  Jubilee 


74 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  75 

Francis  de  Sales,  and  the  Good  Shepherd.  As  final  works  of 
art  were  added  the  Sorrowful  Mother,  and  the  Crucifix, 
which  excited  the  admiration  and  the  piety  of  every  beholder. 

Father  Evers  had  long  dreamed  and  talked  of  an  organ. 
Beside  the  altars  it  was  the  one  thing  that  was  lacking.  May 
25th,  1907,  he  sent  out  the  following  letter:  "Lange  haben 
wir  gewuenscht  und  gebeten,  dass  unsere  Kirche  und  unser 
Gottesdienst  verschoenert  and  verherrlict  wuerden  durch  die 
erhebenden  Klaenge  und  Toene  einer  praechtigen  Orgel. 
.  .  .  Der  liebe  Gott  hat  unser  Gebet  erhoert;  ein  Wohl' 
taeter  Andreas  Carnegie,  wird  uns  $3,250.00  geben,  nachdem 
wir  dieselbe  Summe  kollectiert  haben,  etc."  Achtungsvoll 
A.  Evers,  Pfarrer. 

The  dream  of  years  had  come  true,  and  on  April  19th, 
1908,  Easter  Sunday,  the  new  organ  was  used  for  the  first 
time. 

But,  "Majoresque  cadunt  altis  de  montibus  umbrae/' 
There  was  one  other  day,  whose  warm  and  mellow  radiance, 
shed  its  splendor  over  the  bitter  years  of  Father  Evers'  life, 
as  sometimes  in  autumn,  the  golden  rays  of  the  warm  sun 
seem  to  dispel  the  fear  of  dismal  winter.  And  because  it  was 
such  a  beautiful  day,  filling  his  soul,  the  soul  of  a  priest  who 
amid  disappointments  and  the  fear  of  final  failure  had 
worked  so  hard  for  his  parish,  filling  this  soul  with  happiness, 
it  deserves  all  the  pages  we  can  give  it. 

It  was  the  23rd  day  of  June,  1912,  the  day  of  his  Silver 
Jubilee. 

Father  Evers,  himself  says:  "War  das  nicht  ein  schoenes 
Fest,  das  die  St.  Bonifacius  Gemeinde  ihrem  langjaehrigen 
Herrn  Parrer  A.  Evers  am  Tage  seines  25  jaehrigen  Priester' 
jubilaeums  gefeiert  hat?  Es  war  nicht  nur  ein  Fest  fuer  die 
Geistlichkeit,  fuer  die  Hochw.  Herren  Amtsbrueder  des  Gc 


76  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 

feierten;  auch  diese  waren  sahlreich  zjugegen;  es  war  nicht 
nur  ein  Fest  fuer  die  Reichen  und  Gebildeten;  auch  deren 
sah  man  eine  grosse  Zahl  unter  den  Festteilnehmern;  es  war 
auch  nicht  nur  ein  Fest  fuer  die  einfachen  und  schlichten 
Leute,  obwohl  diese  den  groessten  Teil  der  Festteilnehmer 
ausmachten,  nein,  es  war  ein  Fest  fuer  alle,  Arm  und  Reich, 
Gross  und  Klein,  Vornehm  und  Gering,  es  war  ein  Familien- 
fest  im  wahren  Sinne  des  Wortes,  wo  alle  Mitglieder  der 
Bonifacius  Gemeinde,  ohne  Unterscheid  des  Standes  und  des 
Ranges,  sich  einmuetig  um  ihren  geistigen  Vater,  Fuehrer 
und  Berather  versammelten,  diesem  an  seinem  Jubeltage  als 
ihrem  Vater  und  Freunde  ihre  Verehrung,  und  Huldigung 
darzubringen,  ihm  auf  die  verschiedenste  Weise  fuer  seine 
langjaehrige  aufopfernde  Taetigkeit  ihren  Dank  absustatten. 
.  .  .  In  Wahrheit  solche  Feste  sind  nur  in  der  Katholischen 
Kirche  moeglich,  nur  dort,  wo  die  Katholische  Kirche  alle 
Schichten  der  Bevoelkerung  als  einigendes  Band  umschlingt, 
und  fest  und  innig  mit  ihrem  Hirten  verknuepft.  Ein  solches 
Fest  ehrt  den  Hirten  nicht  weniger,  der  geehrt  werden  soil, 
als  das  Volk,  das  ihm  die  Verehrung  entgegenbringt;  derm  es 
legt  Zeugniss  ab,  dass  in  der  Gemeinde  der  Geist  Christi 
herrscht,  jener  Geist  der  Liebe  von  dem  der  goettliche  Heil- 
and  lehrt:  'Daran  soil  die  Welt  erkennen,  dass  ihr  meine 
Juenger,  dass  ihr  einander  liebet,  wie  ich  euch  geliebt  habe.' 
.  .  .  Ehre  daher  all  den  Guten,  die  an  diesen  Feste  zu 
Ehren  ihres  Herrn  Pfarrer  teilgenommen  haben;  Ehre  alien 
denjenigen,  die  das  Fest  veranstaltet  und  nach  besten  Koen- 
nen  zu  dem  schoenen  Verlaufe  desselben  beigetragen  haben. 
Und  da  man  als  gebildeter  Mann  die  Damen  vorerst  er 
waehnen  soil,  darum  Ehre  all  den  wackeren  Damen,  jungen 
und  aelteren,  die  schon  wochenlang  vorher  sich  um  das  Zu- 
standekommen  des  Feste  in  der  verschiedensten  Weise  be' 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  77 

mueht  haben.  Ehre  den  wackeren  Juenglingen  und  Maen- 
nern,  die  so  manches  Mai  zu  den  verschiedensten  Berathun- 
gen  sich  in  der  Schulhalle  versammelt,  so  manche  und 
schwierige  Geschaefte  auf  sich  genommen  haben,  damit  das 
Fest  den  schoenen  Verlauf  nehmen  koennte,  den  es  in  der 
Tat  genommen  hat.  Ehre  aber  auch  den  treuen  und  uner 
muedlichen  Mitarbeiter  des  hochw.  Herrn  Jubilars  selber, 
dem  lieben  und  guten  Father  Jakl.  Aufzuzaehlen  was  er  alles 
getan  hat,  seinem  hochw.  Herrn  Pfarrer  den  Tag  zu  einem 
Freudenreichen  su  gestallten,  wagt,  Schreiber  dieses  nicht,  da 
er  sonst  fuerchtete,  der  Bescheidenheit  des  liebenswuerdigen 
Herrn  zu  nahe  zu  treten.  .  .  .  Aber  was  waere  das  Fest 
ohne  die  Kinder  gewesen?  Muss  es  die  Eltern  nicht  wahr- 
haft  freuen,  dass  ihre  Kinder  in  der  St.  Bonifacius  Schule 
unter  der  Leitung  der  guten  Schwestern  solches  zu  leisten 
vermoegen?  .  .  .  Was  soil  man  noch  weiter  von  all  den 
Vereinen  sagen,  die  in  der  St.  Bonifacius  Gemeinde  ihren 
Sits  und  die  St.  Bonifacius  Gemeinde  als  gemeinsames  Vater- 
haus  haben?  Wie  haben  sie  sich  Muehe  gegeben,  das  Fest  zu 
verherrlichen  und  den  anderen  Gemeinde  zu  zeigen,  mit 
welch  innigen  Banden  sie  mit  der  St.  Bonifacius  Kirche  und 
derem  geistlichen  Leiter,  dem  hochw.  Herrn  Jubilar,  ver- 
knuepft  sind!  .  .  .  Was  soil  ferner  gesagt  werden  von  all 
den  auswaertigen  Teilnehmern,  die  ehemals  Mitglieder  der 
St.  Bonifacius  Gemeinde  waren?  Soil  mehr  die  ruehrende 
Anhaenglichkeit  derselben  an  diese  Kirche  hervorgehoben 
werden  oder  das  ehrende  Zeugniss  der  Lieb  und  Dankbar- 
keit  gegen  den  hochw.  Herrn  Pfaerrer  daselbst,  das  sie  durch 
ihre  Gegen  wart  bei  dem  Feste  an  den  Tag  legten.  .  .  . 
Kaum  wage  ich  es  und  habe  fast  Angst,  den  Herrn  fernerhin 
unter  die  Augen  zu  treten,  wenn  ich  ruehmend  hervorhebe, 
wie  der  hochw.  F.  Rempe  von  St.  Clemens,  als  ehemaliger 


These  boys  were  the  feature  of  the  Silver  Jubilee  program  that  not 

only  thrilled  the  entire  audience,  but  cast  a  spell  over  listeners  that 

has  not  worn  off.     In  verse  each  one  of  the  boys  depicted  a  year  of 

Father  Evers'  life  as  a  priest. 


78 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  79 

Assistant  des  Hochw.  Herrn  Jubilars,  sich  so  sehr  um  das 
Zustandekommen  und  den  feierlichen  Verlauf  des  Festes  sich 
bemueht,  wie  der  hochw.  H.  Wolf,  Professor  am  Cathedral 
College,  su  gleichen  Zwecken  so  manche  Stunde  geopfert 
hat?  Legte  der  erste  hochw.  Herr  nicht  ein  beredtes  Zeug- 
niss  ab  von  dem  idealen  Verhaeltniss  swischen  Pfarrer  und 
Assistanten  im  Pfarrhause  von  St.  Bonifacius?  Gab  der 
let2;tere  im  Verein  mit  all  den  hochw.  Herren,  die  dem  Herrn 
Jubilar  ihren  persoenlichen  Glueckwuensche  ueber  brachten 
und  dem  Feste  beiwohnten,  sowie  auch  all  die  Schreiben  von 
anderen  Herren,  selbst  von  vielen  Bischoefen,  nicht  Kunde 
von  der  Wertschaetsung  die  der  hochw.  Herr  Jubilar  sich 
auch  im  Kreise  seiner  Kollegen  und  Vorgestetsten  erfreut. 
Das  Gleiche  beseugen  die  vielen  und  wertvollen  Gaben  die 
Priester  und  Laien  ihm  als  Festgeschenk  ueberreichten.  .  .  ." 
Another  excerpt:  "Gleich  nach  der  Kindermesse,  gegen 
halb  elf  Uhr,  fuellte  sich  die  Kirche.  Im  Mittleschiffe 
nahmen  Plats,  die  einselne  Vereine  der  Gemeinde:  Der  St. 
Bonifacius  UnterstuetsungS'Verein,  der  St.  Bonifacius'St. 
Hubertus'Christopher  Columbus'Hof  des  Ordens  der  Katho' 
lischen  Foerster;  der  St.  Bonifacius'  und  St.  Antonius'Zweig 
der  Katholischen  Garde  von  Amerika;  die  Western  Catholic 
Union,  der  St.  Raphaels  JuenglingS' Verein,  und  der  Namen 
Jesu  Maenner  Bund.  Von  den  Frauen'Vereinen,  die  an  der 
Evangelien  Seite  im  Mittelschiffe  ihre  Sitse  hatten,  waren 
ebenfalls  anwesend:  Der  Mutter  Gottes' Verein,  Hers  Hesu 
Bund,  RosenkranS' Verein,  die  Damenfoersterinnen,  der 
Damen  Unterstuetsungs- Verein  und  die  St.  Rosa  Jungfrauen 
Sodalitaet.  Alle  anderen  Plaetse  waren  von  Festgaesten  bis 
Sum  letsten  Plats  besetst,  und  viele  konnten  nur  mehr  Steh' 
plaetse  erhalten.  Um  1 1  Uhr  setste  sich  die  Kinderproses' 
sion  von  Messdienern,  weissgekleideten  Knaben  und  Maed' 


80  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

chen,  von  den  ehrwuerdigen  Schwestern  auf  das  geschmack- 
vollste  arrangiert,  durch  die  Kirche  sum  Pfarrhause  in  Be- 
wegung,  um  den  hochw.  Herrn  Jubilar,  seine  Assistenz  und 
die  zahlreiche  Priesterfreunde  unter  dem  Freudengelauete  der 
Glocken  zur  Kirche  zu  geleiten.  Nach  dem  "Veni  Creator" 
und  dem  Asperges  nahm  das  feierliche  Hochamt  seinen  An' 
fang.  Dem  hochw.  Jubilar  assistierten  als  Presbyter  Assis' 
tens  Very  Rev.  Alois  Thiele,  G.  V.,  als  Diakon  Rev.  J.  M. 
Kasel,  von  Milwaukee,  als  Subdiakon  Rev.  P.  Biermann,  von 
Evanston,  und  als  Ceremoniar,  Herr  Henry  Retzek,  Theo' 
logiestudent  in  St.  Francis.  Sonst  waren  von  Priestem  an- 
wesend,  Very  Rev.  Bernhard  Richter,  G.  V.,  Pfarrer  der  St. 
Bonifacius  Kirche  in  Melrose,  Minn.;  Fred  Schulze,  Profes' 
sor  am  Seminar  zu  St.  Francis;  John  Wiederhold,  Winfield, 
Joseph  LaBoule  von  Milwaukee,  Peter  Weber  von  Aurora, 
D.  Dunne,  N.  Wolf,  C.  Rempe,  A.  Wolfgarten  von  der 
Cathedrale  Chicago,  G.  Sztuczko,  Andrew  Spetz,  Dom. 
Egan,  A.  H.  Leising  P.  Tinan,  D.  Riordan,  M.  J.  Dorney,  P. 
C.  Conway,  Dionys  Thiele,  Franz  Schikowski,  Geo.  Hemv 
sath  and  Julius  Jakl.  Die  Festpredigt  hielt  in  inhalts — und 
formvollendeter  Weise  der  hochw.  Herr  Franz,  Rempe, 
Pfarrer  an  der  St.  Clemens  Gemeinde,  der  durch  sieben  Jahre 
als  treuer  Assistant  unter  der  Leitung  des  hochw.  Herrn 
Jubilars  segensreich  an  der  St.  Bonifacius  Kirche  wirkte. 
Nach  dem  Amte  setzte  sich  die  Kinderprocession  in  derselben 
Weise  wie  vor  demselben  sum  Pfarrhaus  in  Bewegung  wo 
der  hochw.  Jubilar  mit  seiner  Secundiz  Braut  Florence  Gu- 
garski  und  sieben  anderen  weissgekleideten  Maedchen  und 
auf  einem  anderen  Bilde  mit  25  weissgekleideten  Schul- 
knaben  photographiert  wurde.  .  .  .  Bei  dem  Dinner,  an 
dem  27  Priester  von  fern  und  nah  teilnahmen  herrschte  eine 
gemuetliche  Stimmung,  und  die  Tischreden  zeugten  von  dem 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  81 

Geiste  der  Einigkeit  und  bruederlichen  Liebe  unter  dem 
Klerus.  Waehrend  des  Tages  gesellten  sich  noch  andere 
Priester  dazu  die  wegen  dem  Gottesdienst  verhindert  waren 
am  morgen  zu  erscheinen.  Darunter  George  Eisenbacher, 
George  Blatter,  Konrad  Knur,  Ed.  Kramer,  Jos.  Rempe,  J. 
Cregan,  Michael  Klasen.  Am  Abend  in  der  Schulhalle 
brachten  25  weiss  gekleidete  Knaben  in  gelungener  Weise 
ihre  Jubilaeums  Sprueche  zu  Vortrag.  Herr  Hippolyth  Was- 
kowski  ueberreichte  mit  herzlichen  Worten  dem  hochw. 
Jubilar  das  neue  Brevier  ein  Geschenk  des  Namen  Jesu  Maen' 
ner  Bundes.  Dann  sang  der  Kirchen  Chor  zwei  Lieder  und 
Herr  James  Voss,  Stud.  Med.  ueberreichte  in  gediegener 
Weise  in  englischer  Sprache  die  Glueckwuensche  der  jungen 
Welt  der  St.  Bonifacius  Gemeinde.  Dann  betrat  Dr.  Med. 
Henry  Schmitz  die  Buehne  und  in  wohldurchdachter  Rede 
schilderte  er  die  Taetigkeit  des  hochw.  Father  Evers  als 
Priester  als  Vereinsmann  und  im  oeffentlichen  Leben  als 
Buerger,  und  ueberreichte  ihm  als  persoenliches  Geschenk 
einen  kunstvoll  ausgefuehrten  Kelch  im  Werte  von  $250. 
Die  Herren  Leo  Karowski  und  Ferdinand  Witt  statteten  dann 
dem  hochw.  Jubilar  ihren  Dank  aus  fuer  seine  Taetigkeit  in 
der  katholischen  Garde:  ersterer  fuer  den  Verein  als  solcher 
und  zweiter  als  Praesident  des  lokal  Zweiges  nr.  1 .  Sodann 
ergrief  der  hochw'ste  General  Vikar  Very  Rev.  Alois  Thiele 
das  Wort  und  schilderte  in  begeisternder  Rede  die  Hoclv 
actung  die  er  und  seine  Mitbrueder  fuer  den  Jubilar  hegten, 
und  ueberreichte  ihm  am  Ende  eine  Boerse  mit  $1,200,  kol' 
lectiert  von  Priestern,  Vereinen,  und  der  Gemeinde,  fuer  ein 
Gedaechtniss  Fenster  in  der  St.  Bonifacius  Kirche.  (This 
window  is  the  West  Rose  Window,  representing  the  Last 
Supper. )" 

But  this  day,  with  all  its  brightness,  could  not  dispel 


Fred  Ludwig 


B.  Mayer 


Bernhard  Klingenmaier 


Andreas  Ribandt 


Johann  Mathia 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  83 

permanently  the  gloom  which  had  settled  and  still  was 
settling  over  the  parish.  There  is  but  one  reason  for  the  de- 
cline of  St.  Boniface.  It  was  the  fact  that  one  by  one  with 
the  ever  increasing  impetus,  the  old  German  families  were 
leaving  the  neighborhood  for  the  more  attractive  outskirts 
of  the  city.  The  appalling  rapidity  of  this  calamity  can  best 
be  visualised  from  the  attendance  in  our  school.  In  1901  and 
1902  when  our  school  was  at  its  best,  it  numbered  almost 
1,200  children;  in  1916  there  were  less  than  200  in  spite  of 
the  fact  that  almost  half  of  these  200  were  children  from  the 
neighboring  Slovak  parish,  which  just  then  was  building  its 
own  school.  The  exodus  of  the  Germans  was  caused  by  suc- 
cessive waives  of  migration.  The  new  arrivals  were  a  mixture 
of  Jew  and  Polish.  The  Jewish  migration,  however,  which 
was  so  strong  for  a  few  years,  that  almost  80%  of  the  public 
school  attendance  was  of  Jewish  children,  passed  its  peak  in 
1913  and  1915.  After  that  the  neighborhood  became  almost 
purely  Catholic  Polish.  In  his  efforts  to  keep  his  own  people 
clustered  about  the  church,  Father  Evers  used  every  promis- 
ing means  to  make  this  neighborhood  attractive.  He  worked 
for  pavement  of  the  streets  and  alleys,  for  proper  lighting  of 
the  streets,  for  sewers  and  the  best  sanitation,  and  finally  he 
was  chiefly  instrumental  in  having  the  ten  acres  now  compos- 
ing Eckert  Park,  which  really  should  be  called  Evers  Park, 
condemned  for  park  purposes.  For  years  property  ads  were 
run  in  every  issue  of  the  Pfarrbote;  but  all  these  efforts  well 
directed  as  they  were,  were  in  vain. 

The  indebtedness  of  the  parish  on  December  31st,  1905, 
was  $119,136.  Beginning  with  that  year,  the  income  be- 
came insufficient  to  meet  the  expenses.  The  deficit  in  1906 
was  $4,425.  In  1907,  $2,250;  in  1908,  $6,900;  in  1909, 
$1,000;  in  1910,  $1,100;  in  1911,  $800;  in  1912,  $1,900;  in 


84  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 

1913,  $500;  in  1914,  $4,870;  in  1915,  $7,038.13.  The 
actual  debt  in  1916  was  $144,594.06. 

This  tremendous  burden  broke  the  spirit  and  the  health  of 
Father  Evers.  But  even  to  the  end  he  loved  St.  Boniface  and 
tried  to  find  some  means  by  which  it  could  be  maintained. 
Since  the  neighborhood  was  almost  exclusively  Polish,  he 
thought  that  our  church  might  be  turned  over  to  them,  and 
enough  money  realised  to  acquire  a  smaller  church  for  the 
few  remaining  Germans;  another  idea  was  to  entrust  the 
parish  to  some  religious  order  like  the  Franciscans,  who  pos- 
sibly might  succeed  in  making  it  self-supporting.  But  in 
June,  1916,  it  was  finally  decided  to  give  the  parish  another 
chance  under  the  direction  of  a  secular  priest.  This  decision 
was  made  by  the  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  in  consequence  of  a 
petition  containing  226  names  of  purported  parish  members, 
most  of  which  eventually  proved  to  be  spurious,  and  the 
outspoken  wish  of  the  German  clergy  of  the  city  to  keep  the 
parish  in  their  own  hands. 

The  Pfarrbote  of  November,  1920,  contains  the  follow- 
ing: "He  was  pastor  of  St.  Boniface  for  over  twenty  years. 
Resigning  on  account  of  ill  health  June,  1 9 1 6,  he  spent  a  year 
in  Arizona  and  New  Mexico  with  Archbishop  Pitaval,  his 
old  friend.  Believing  that  he  had  sufficiently  recovered,  he 
assumed  the  pastorate  of  Niles  Center,  in  May,  1917,  but 
after  a  few  years,  October,  1919,  was  again  forced  to  seek  a 
Western  climate.  He  died  at  Denver,  October  13th,  1920, 
His  body  was  brought  to  Chicago  and  at  his  request  buried 
from  St.  Boniface.  The  funeral  took  place  Tuesday  morn- 
ing, October  19th.  It  was  attended  by  the  Most  Rev.  Arch- 
bishop, over  a  hundred  priests,  many  prominent  men  of  the 
city  and  thousands  of  his  old  parishioners.  .  .  .  During 
the  twenty  years  of  his  pastorate  he  erected  all  the  present 


FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  85 

buildings,  composing  St.  Boniface  with  the  exception  of  the 
nuns'  convent.  The  buildings  as  they  are  today  cannot  be 
duplicated  for  less  than  half  a  million  dollars.  They  are  a 
lasting  monument  to  his  energy  and  taste.  He  was  often 
honored  by  his  ecclesiastical  superiors  and  enjoyed  the  friend- 
ship and  confidence  of  men  prominent  in  the  government  of 
the  city,  state  and  nation." 

Indeed,  when  we  contemplate  the  works  he  has  left  behind 
him,  we  must  admire  his  wonderful  energy,  and  the  remark' 
able  good  taste  he  displayed  in  every  one  of  his  productions. 
This  property  as  it  is  today  could  never  be  reproduced  again 
by  this  parish.  The  failure  to  reduce  the  debt  was  no  fault 
of  his,  but  the  result  of  circumstances,  which  no  human 
being  could  foresee  or  control. 

The  following  is  an  excerpt  of  the  funeral  sermon,  given 
by  his  successor,  Father  C.  A.  Rempe.  "Father  Evers  was 
a  prominent  priest  of  this  diocese,  he  was  your  pastor  for 
many  years.  It  would  be  wrong  and  foolish  for  me  to  deny 
his  faults.  A  man  is  born  with  faults,  laboriously  he  ac 
quires  virtue.  He  was  ambitious,  he  was  domineering,  he 
was  impatient  of  failure  and  restraint.  But  look  at  the  other 
side.  Father  Evers  was  a  man  of  culture  and  refinement,  he 
was  a  man  of  exact  scientific  knowledge,  he  was  capable  and 
energetic  (he  was  only  thirty  years  old  when  he  began  the 
erection  of  these  magnificent  buildings) .  And  above  all  was 
he  not  a  good  priest,  did  he  ever  neglect  his  priestly  duties? 
He  was  hospitable  to  a  fault,  generous  and  kind  to  the  poor. 
You  say  he  was  after  money;  for  whom  was  it?  He  himself 
died  penniless,  dependent  upon  charity.  Often  when  I  walk 
these  dreary  streets,  I  think  of  Father  Evers  painfully  limp' 
ing  through  them  on  similar  errands.  How  assiduous  was 
he  not  on  sick  calls?    His  very  stubbornness  and  tenacity  im' 


86  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 

puted  to  him  as  a  fault,  made  him  stay  at  the  bedside  for 
hours,  until  the  man  had  made  his  peace  with  God.  But 
more  than  all  this,  as  far  as  we  are  concerned,  Father  Evers 
loved  St.  Boniface,  he  loved  this  parish,  he  loved  this  church, 
he  loved  you.  During  the  last  four  years,  the  years  of  his 
exile  as  they  may  be  called,  he  thought  and  spoke  of  nothing 
but  St.  Boniface.  In  the  ten  minutes  I  spent  at  his  bedside, 
a  few  hours  before  his  death,  when  I  told  him  that  I  had 
come  all  the  way  from  Chicago  to  Denver,  only  to  bring 
him  the  sympathy  and  the  good  wishes  of  his  old  parish,  his 
face  lighted  with  happiness,  and  he  said,  '1st  das  doch  nicht 
sehr  schoen.'  And  when  I  mentioned  some  of  your  names, 
some  who  may  have  wronged  him,  he  pressed  my  hand  and 
did  not  hinder  the  tears  that  welled  from  his  eyes.  Ah,  my 
dear  friends,  he  was  our  friend,  a  good,  kind,  loving  dutiful 
priest." 

After  his  death  all  the  societies  and  many  of  the  parish' 
requiem  high  mass  is  said  every  year,  on  October  1 3th,  the 
soul.  His  remains  are  intered  in  St.  Boniface  Cemetery.  A 
requiem  high  mass  is  said  every  year,  on  October  1 3th,  the 
anniversay  of  his  death.    May  his  soul  rest  in  peace. 


APPENDIX  TO  REVEREND  EVERS 

er  St.  Bonifacius  Pfarrbote"  deserves  special 
notice.  It  was  founded  December,  1898,  and 
was  issued  every  month  for  almost  28  years. 
It  contains  an  almost  complete  history  of  the 
parish  during  that  time,  contemporaneous 
accounts  of  all  events  which  took  place;  it 
contains  lists  of  all  contributors  to  the  parish 
for  every  and  all  occasions.  There  is  only  one 
gap  as  far  as  issuance  is  concerned,  that  is  from  July,  1916,  to 
December,  1916,  during  which  time  the  "Piatt-bote"  was  not 
published. 

It  was  founded  by  Father  Evers  and  the  cover  design 
which  has  been  used  ever  since  was  made  by  Frank  Welch, 
Sr.  In  1916  Father  Rempe  made  great  exertions  to  secure 
copies  of  all  the  issues  from  its  foundation,  and  was  success- 
ful with  the  following  exceptions:  December,  1898,  to  De- 
cember, 1899,  complete;  1900  all  lost  except  January,  April, 
December;  1901  all  lost;  1903  all  lost  except  April  and 
August:  all  other  years  complete.  All  these  copies  have  been 
bound  and  are  religiously  preserved.  Should  this  notice  come 
to  the  attention  of  any  one  who  happens  to  have  the  missing 
copies,  he  is  earnestly  requested  to  give  them  to  the  pastor  of 
St.  Boniface,  as  they  will  be  of  more  permanent  value  there 
than  anywhere  else. 

From  1898  to  1916  the  paper  was  conducted  by  the  as- 
sistants of  the  parish  under  the  direction  of  Father  Evers. 
Beside  their  historical  value  all  these  issues  contain  literary 
and  religious  gems,  most  of  them  original  with  the  writers. 

87 


88  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


W.   H.   Nelles 


Frank  Glueck 


In  1916  Father  Rempe  appointed  a  staff  of  editors,  being  the 
secretaries  or  specially  appointed  scribes  of  the  school  and 
the  various  societies.  In  February,  1920,  the  management 
was  taken  over  by  Father  Harnischmacher,  and  in  May, 
1926,  it  was  entrusted  to  Father  Kalvelage.  The  policy  of 
the  "Pfarrbote"  since  1916  has  been  to  bring  only  items  of 
local  interest,  and  as  much  as  possible  to  bring  everything  of 
local  interest.  Under  the  direction  of  Father  Kalvelage  the 
scope  will  again  be  widened,  and  articles  on  religious  and 
other  subjects  will  again  appear. 

In  order  to  give  credit  as  much  as  possible  to  those  who 
took  active  part  in  the  noble  work  of  erecting  this  church, 
the  names  of  those  who  participated  in  the  various  parish 
entertainments,  and  who  made  larger  donations  will  be  given 
from  the  St.  Bonifacius  Pfarrbote  as  far  as  the  copies  are 
available. 

"Wir  sprechen  hiermit  unseren  Dank  aus  dem  Herrn  Bern- 


APPENDIX  TO  FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS 


89 


Adam  Wohn 


John  Flemming 


hard  Miehling  fuer  die  herrliche  Hers  Jesu  Statue,  die  der 
selbe  geschenkt  hat."    May,  1899. 

Cast  of  Characters,  "Fernando,  oder  des  Raeubers  Be' 
kehrung,"  Julius  Weske,  John  H.  Grzybowski,  George  Hoclv 
stetter,  Alfred  P.  Barth,  Albert  Barski,  Frank  B.  Stall,  Alois 
Rominski,  Leo  Juhnke,  Peter  Korthals,  Leo  Schuenemann, 
Wm.  Schmidt.    November  29th  and  30th,  1899. 

Cast  of  Characters,  "WeihnachtS'Feier,  January  1st  and 
7th,  1900."  V.  Ruzkowski,  A.  Kuegers,  L.  Korthals,  F. 
Nelles,  L.  Mayer,  R.  Hellmuth,  R.  Demes,  — .  Reisel,  G. 
Stall,  K.  Mayer,  Z.  Stall,  M.  Schufreider,  L.  Kolle,  L.  Laury, 
L.  Rominski,  M.  Hochstetter,  Leo  Schuenemann,  Frank 
Welch,  J.  Fensterle,  C.  Korthals,  K.  Mayer,  L.  Reisel,  C. 
Mayer,  F.  Nelles,  G.  Stall,  M.  Behrendt,  Lucia  Kerpen,  J. 
Stall,  R.  Demes,  V.  Ruskowski,  M.  Schufreider,  B.  Mayer, 
A.  Kuepers. 

Entertainment  April  16th  and  22nd,  1900:    F.  Wagner, 


90 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


John  Puetz 


John  Doerr 


Leo  Schuenemann,  John  H.  Grzybowski,  Frances  Weber, 
Henry  Schuenemann,  John  Fensterle,  John  Reisel,  George 
Spenner,  Andrew  Sprengel,  Frank  Welch,  Carl  Schmitt, 
Lawrence  Mayer,  Ernst  Knops,  Clement  Demes,  Peter  Kor 
thals,  Fred  Mayer,  Albert  Beyran,  Henry  Brockhagen,  Al' 
bert  Juhnke,  Carl  Marino,  John  Ruf,  Conrad  Spenner,  Jacob 
Voss,  John  Leshek,  C.  Behrendt,  P.  Schommer,  C.  Korman, 
Mathias  Reisel. 

Program  December  26th  and  30th,  1900.  C.  Behrendt, 
Lizzie  Kolle,  John  Reisel,  Katie  Mayer,  John  Fensterle,  Josie 
Stall,  And.  Sprengel,  Martha  Saycke,  Kath.  Schuenemann, 
Mary  Schufreider,  L.  Schuenemann,  V.  Ruzkowski,  L. 
Weske,  L.  Kerpen,  M.  Schureider,  K.  Hellmuth,  L.  Koolle 
L.  Laux,  L.  Schuenemann,  C.  Demes,  Frank  Welch,  R. 
Schiffzick,  Lucia  Kerpen,  Lizzie  Laux. 

February  2nd  and  9th,  1902:  Leo  Juhnke,  Franz  Tutliz, 
Paul  Juhnke,  Julius  Weske,  John  Grzybowski,  Johann  Hep' 


APPENDIX  TO  FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS 


91 


Joseph  Kertz 


Albert  Orzada 


ner,  Ed.  Behrendt,  George  Hochstetter,  Albert  Klingemeier, 
Franz  Diebold. 

May  18th  and  19th,  1902:  John  K.  Grzybowski,  Leo 
Juhnke,  Wm.  Schmidt,  Dora  Bies,  Julius  Weske,  Rosa  Kies' 
ling,  Ed.  Behrendt,  Aug.  J.  Ehssen,  Wm.  Scholl,  John 
Rozek,  John  Heppner,  J.  Korthals,  John  Demes. 

School  graduates  June,  1902:  Lizzie  Kolle,  Martha 
Sayscke,  Elizabeth  Gehrman,  James  Voss,  Conrad  Spenner, 
Philip  Karmann,  John  Schuenemann,  Otto  Wiedenheft,  John 
Elischer. 

Committee,  Sommerfest,  August  10th,  1904:  M.  A. 
Bredel,  Phil  Reither,  Jos.  C.  Kotlengar,  C.  J.  Manheim,  A. 
Schuminski,  Louis  Nillmeyer,  P.  P.  Springer,  Hugo  Miller, 
S.  Kielczynski,  A.  J.  Reisel,  John  Kriese,  J.  Wesolek,  W. 
Walder,  Frank  Nichel,  John  Schlender. 

Concert  of  Church  Choir,  January  29,  1905:  J.  Wagner, 
Rose  Kiesling,  Gertrude  Mees,  Jno.  Demes,  H.  Miller,  J. 


92  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Joseph    Groschel 


August  Behnke 


Wagner,  J.  Weske,  H.  Miller,  Borki,  J.  Demes,  N.  Schom' 
mer,  Tillie  Scholl,  J.  Weske,  G.  Mees,  R.  Marino,  J.  Bauer. 

Graduates  of  our  school,  June,  1905:  Mathias  Reisel, 
Bernard  Kerpen,  Henry  Retzek,  Martin  Dymek,  John  For 
mella,  Frank  Lamm,  Andrew  Korthals,  Emil  Bumann,  Frank 
Brand,  Bertha  Kallas,  Hattie  Jackwerth,  Louise  Welch,  Elsie 
Gruenfield,  Mary  Kolath,  Cecilia  Dochtermann. 

Young  Ladies'  Sodality  Entertainment,  January  1st  and 
7th,  1906:  Gertrude  Mees,  Mary  Mathia,  Marcella  Kor- 
thals, Dorothy  Wehle,  Constantia  Korthals,  Elizabeth  Kor 
thals,  Frances  Malida,  Lucy  Latus,  Agnes  Ro^ek,  Pelagia 
Plantin,  Anna  Schmidt,  Florence  Stieffel,  Elis  Kolath,  Lucy 
Leschinski,  Anselma  Klar,  Anna  Buntrock,  Mary  Sowka, 
Anna  Wiedmann,  Nicholas  Schommer,  Paul  Mathia,  Julia 
Mauschnjk. 

Graduates  of  our  school,  June,  1906:  John  Schufreider, 
Edward  Schmidt,  Alexander  Mueller,  Joseph  Musolff,  Albert 


APPENDIX  TO  FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  93 

Stall,  Marie  Bredel,  Agnes  Kuszynski,  Rosella  Dams,  Anna 
Fackenberg,  Catherine  Klingermaier,  Margaret  Donnelly, 
Frances  Meik,  Irene  Marino. 

Young  Ladies'  Sodality  Entertainment,  February  1 2th  and 
19th,  1907:  Anna  Buntrock,  Dorothy  Wehle,  Anna  Smith, 
Julia  Mauschnik,  Gertrude  Mees,  Elisabeth  Rominski,  Agnes 
Rozek,  Constance  Korthals,  Marcella  Korthals,  Rose  Vene- 
kamp,  Otto  Wiedenheft. 

Young  Men's  Entertainment,  May,  1907:  Otto  P.  Wie' 
denheft,  Clement  J.  Demes,  Leo  A.  Schuenemann,  Frank  J. 
Traub,  Joseph  H.  Voss,  John  L.  Reisel,  Michael  J.  Sprengel, 
John  A.  Dahms,  W.  L.  Deichstetter,  J.  H.  Elischer,  Conrad 
J.  Spenner. 

Graduates,  June,  1907:  Daniel  Stanke,  Adam  Kulleck, 
Arthur  Terlecki,  Charles  Korthals,  Peter  dinger,  Richard 
Kulleck,  Louis  Corda,  Albert  Behrend,  William  Elischer, 
Michael  Laux,  Marie  Wesemann,  Augusta  Dohra,  Elizabeth 
Kolakowski,  Clara  Behrendt,  Dora  Hinterberger,  Elvera 
Schuenemann,  Florence  Wisersky,  Marie  Rink. 

Young  Men's  Sodality  Play,  April  22nd  and  26th,  1908: 
James  Voss,  John  Reisel,  Andy  Sprengel,  Joseph  Voss,  Edw. 
Stefmaier,  John  Dahms,  Conrad  Spenner,  Tillie  Scholl,  Anna 
Koslek,  Lizzie  Beyerau. 

Young  Ladies'  Sodality  Play,  May  17th  and  20th,  1908: 
Marcella  Korthals,  Christine  Buger,  Anna  Buntrock,  Eliza' 
beth  Rominski,  Julia  Munchnik,  Constance  Korthals,  Anna 
Kloske,  Getrude  Mees,  Hattie  Buger,  Elizabeth  Mayer, 
Martha  Witt,  Mary  Mathia,  Frances  Ribandt,  Anna  Pisclv 
lowski,  Katie  Formella,  Mary  Leschinski,  Emma  Struttmat- 
ter,  Hattie  Witt,  Lydia  Knudt,  Agnes  Musolf,  Rose  Kloske, 
Hattie  Columbe,  Valeria  Munschnik,  Anna  Kriese,  Andrew 


94  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Joseph    Thcis 


August  Wesemann 


Korthals,  Joseph  Reisel,  Anna  Reisel,  Emma  Schroeder, 
Mary  Chirdak,  Theresia  Girsch,  Josephine  Schmidt,  Lilly 
Polatowski,  Anna  Tuschinski. 

Graduates  of  our  school,  June,  1908:  John  Sprengel, 
Joseph  Reisel,  Rudolph  Horbas,  Frank  Bumann,  Henry  Kar 
mann,  Edward  Coy,  Peter  Henn,  John  Mulholland,  Edwin 
Gmelich,  Martha  Krueger,  Hattie  Schark,  Laura  Ververs, 
Josephine  Lehmann,  Helen  Otte,  Anna  Teschner,  Susan 
dinger,  Loretta  Kalteaux. 

Graduation  Exercises,  June  16th,  1909:  M.  Krueger,  A. 
Bredel,  E.  Voss,  M.  Dymek,  A.  Dombrowski,  Marguerite 
Dymek,  A.  Bredel,  A.  Kongorski,  G.  Hausherr,  L.  Lagod' 
zinski,  R.  Rauwolf,  M.  Rosenmeyer,  T.  Rauwolf,  M.  Hart' 
wig,  M.  Gmelich,  D.  Hinterberger. 

Young  Ladies'  Sodality  Play,  November  21st  and  24th, 
1909:  Constance  Korthals,  Marcella  Korthals,  Rose  Kloske, 
Anna  Buntrock,  Anna  Reisel,  Rose  Vennekamp,  Lizzie  Re 


APPENDIX  TO  FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  95 

minski,  Agnes  Rozek,  Emma  Pavloske,  Anna  Kriesse,  Rose 
Schultowski,  Gertrude  Mees,  Henry  Fellmeth. 

St.  Boniface  Dramatic  Society,  April  17th,  20th  and  24th, 
1910:  Jos.  H.  Voss,  Andrew  Sprengel,  James  Voss,  Paul 
Patrickus,  John  A.  Fensterle,  Erwin  J.  Wiedenheft,  Wm.  E. 
Habeslan,  John  H.  Elischer,  John  Koslik,  Arthur  F.  Terlecki, 
Walter  J.  Lietz,  Edward  Gmelich,  Elizabeth  Beyerau,  Anna 
M.  Koslik,  Tillie  Scholl. 

Graduates,  June,  1910:  Anthony  Altosino,  Clement 
Bolts,  John  Corda,  Wm.  Coy,  James  Kalteaux,  Theodore 
Kuszynski,  Joseph  Pauly,  Joseph  Prokosch,  Benno  Retzek, 
Frank  Ropinski,  Ferdinand  Scherzinger,  Rudolph  Terlecki, 
Viola  Dombrowski,  Clara  Elischer,  Margaret  Gmelich, 
Josephine  Goss,  Louise  Hilgers,  Elizabeth  Karmann,  Maria 
Klein,  Margaret  Korthals,  Theresia  Rauwolf,  Maria  Romin' 
ski,  Maria  Rosenmayer,  Clara  Sirostowski,  Magdalena 
Thomas. 

Members  of  St.  Boniface  Choir,  April  30th,  1911:  Clara 
Behrend,  Mary  Chudak,  Augusta  Dohra,  Constance  Kor 
thals,  Marcella  Korthals,  Gertrude  Mees,  Rose  Pavleski, 
Elizabeth  Rominski,  Tillie  Scholl,  Mary  Schultowski,  Anna 
Tuschinski,  Lizzie  Wruck,  Albert  Barski,  B.  G.  Hartwig, 
Andrew  Korthals,  Fred  Mees,  Paul  Patrickus,  John  Puetz, 
John  Reisel,  A.  Sprengel,  Arthur  Terlecki,  Ed.  Witt.  Second 
Choir:  Mary  Balousek,  Alice  Bredel,  Alma  Dombrowski, 
Viola  Dombrowski,  Marguerite  Dymek,  Catherine  Formella, 
Margaret  Gmelich,  Martha  Hartwig,  Mary  Klein,  Rose  Mad- 
den,  Catherine  S.  Neu,  Anna  Pischlowski,  Rosina  Rauwolf, 
Theresa  Rauwolf,  Mary  Rominski,  Mary  Rosenmeyer,  Mag- 
dalen Thomas,  Martha  Witt,  August  C.  Mueller,  Organist. 

Graduates  of  our  school,  June,  1911:  Henry  Voss,  Her- 
man Hesser,  William  Simunich,  August  Gehrmann,  Henry 


96 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Anton  Ennesser 


Joseph   Totcke 


Brod,  Anton  Henn,  Thomas  Bauer,  Joseph  Rank,  Wm. 
Murphy,  Joseph  Skokna,  Joseph  Traub,  Teresa  Kilian,  Helen 
Terlecki,  Grace  Mans,  Alma  Krueger,  Gertrude  Krempel, 
Bertha  Froemgen,  Mary  Reisel,  Mary  Wagner,  Margaret 
Scheib. 

Fair  Committee,  1911:  John  Hauber,  John  Puetz,  Math. 
Nelles,  August  Behnke,  Anton  Fabrits,  Frank  Welch,  John 
Fensterle,  Jr.,  John  Fiedler,  Andreas  Koob,  Andrew  Korthals, 
Frank  Munschkowski,  Paul  Ketke,  Martin  Strittmatter, 
Liborius  Schneider,  Ferdinand  Witt,  Frank  Stellmach,  John 
Fensterle,  Sr.,  Peter  Zappen,  Albert  Orzada,  Frank  Teschke, 
Peter  Brod,  Wm.  Brucker. 

Officers  and  Promoters  of  the  Christian  Mothers'  Society, 
1912:  Magdalena  Reisel,  Emma  Voss,  Wilhelmina  Cierski, 
Helena  Koob,  Anna  Behrendt,  Maria  Marina,  Maria  Hesser, 
Cecelia  Hoff ,  Genevieve  Strittmatter,  Amalia  Ververs,  Maria 
Meter,  Helena  Horbas,  Elisabeth  Leschinski,  Paulina  Zoep' 


APPENDIX  TO  FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS  97 

ping,  Theresa  Ritschi,  Cecilia  Skokna,  Anna  Schidletzki, 
Josephine  Hartwig,  Martha  Scheib. 

Graduates  of  1912:  John  Kovach,  Walter  Tabert,  Va- 
lerian Ginter,  George  Wesemann,  Joseph  Brod,  Nicholas 
Pauly,  Frank  Rosenmeyer,  Arthur  Hoff,  Charles  Koob, 
Aloys  Wisersky,  Helen  Stevko,  Jennie  Barnowski,  Helen 
Horbas,  Anna  Landeck,  Mary  Stroh,  Marguerite  Kuper, 
Anna  Schabelski,  Rosa  Balousek,  Martha  Thiede,  Emma 
Strittmatter,  Agnes  Musolf,  Theresa  Rominski,  Agnes 
Behnek. 

Fair  Committee,  1912:  Ignatz,  Polaschek,  George  Spen- 
ner,  Hypolit  Waskowsku,  Andrew  Korthals,  Jr.,  Frank 
Welch,  Victor  Simunich,  Frank  Kallas,  John  Puetz,  Lorenz 
Honikel,  Adam  Schuminski,  Math.  Nelles,  John  Hauber,  B. 
Orzada,  C.  J.  Spenner,  Edward  Witt,  John  Fensterle,  Jr., 
Martin  Koop. 

Graduates  of  1913:  Leo  Kriese,  Bernard  Simunich, 
William  Friemel,  Bernard  Marks,  Raymond  Bredel,  Frank 
Klein,  Benedict  Kongorski,  George  Otte,  Alfred  Stroh,  Felix 
Schommer,  Martin  Wruck,  Elizabeth  Dresen,  Marie  Zblew 
ski,  Wilma  Rauwolf,  Gertrude  Dymek,  Harriet  Ginter,  Mar' 
cella  Stegmaier,  Mary  Surma,  Mary  Nits,  Clara  Rominski. 

Fair  Committee,  1913:  James  Voss,  Andrew  Korthals, 
Dr.  Henry  Schmitz,  A.  Behnke,  F.  Welch,  J.  Fensterle, 
Julius  Weske,  J.  Skokna,  Rev.  Jos.  Adams,  A.  Korthals,  Jr., 
J.  W.  Fiedler,  Rev.  A.  Evers,  L.  Honikel,  A.  Behnke,  Rev.  F. 
Bergs,  Martin  Koop,  S.  Zblewski,  I.  Meier,  John  Koll,  Joe 
Stamm,  Charles  Marina,  J.  Jotlanger,  Aug.  Zilligen,  A.  Le- 
wandowski,  Theo.  Rozek,  Otto  Jaeger,  Alb.  Barski,  George 
Dilger,  I.  Allgeier,  Ed.  Witt,  L.  Schneider,  J.  L.  Reisel,  F. 
Kallas,  J.  Rauchfleisch,  V.  Simunich,  J.  Scherzinger,  M.  Ver' 
schoore,  N.  Baribie,  Ed.  Dernbach,  Ch.  Kowalski,  H.  Stall, 


98 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Ferd.  Witt 


Franz  Teschke 


Max  Heidelmeier,  H.  Waskowski,  Oscar  Kupfer,  George 
Hochstetter,  Mr.  Mueller,  E.  J.  Kaindl,  M.  Nelles,  A.  Fab- 
ritz,  J.  Pauly,  Nic.  Waterloo,  C.  Spenner,  A.  Guretzki, 
A.  Fleck,  C.  Koob,  P.  Hoff,  I.  Kuczynski,  A.  Szu- 
minski,  M.  Retzek,  A.  Stellmacher,  G.  Jarding,  P.  Barski, 
Ch.  Schaefer,  Sigm.  Schwartz,  J.  Siebert,  F.  Schaffner,  F. 
Slovi,  M.  Theis,  J.  Wachholz,  J.  C.  Paul,  J.  Zappen,  M. 
Blazek,  P.  Zappen,  A.  Grzygowski,  F.  Glueck,  J.  Wruck,  Ch. 
Witt,  J.  Ziegler,  J.  Ziert,  J.  Gewerth,  N.  Dombrowski,  Mr. 
Schmidt,  A.  Orzada,  J.  Brostowicz,  J.  Pettinger,  Alb.  Rosen' 
berger,  A.  Gushal,  F.  Kongorski,  Andrew  Koob,  M.  Schue, 
M.  Richwalski,  F.  Kotowski,  S.  S.  Walkowiak,  F.  Rominski, 
Wm.  Friemel,  F.  Fiegel,  A.  Gabrial,  J.  Kristan,  L.  Golem- 
biewski,  F.  Teschke,  L.  Green,  J.  Grein,  J.  Huhnke,  A. 
Schultowski,  A.  Sass,  R.  Schweigel,  J.  Sowka,  P.  Schroeder, 
A.  Schabelski,  P.  Schmitz,  F.  Scheib,  P.  Brod,  M.  Raehling, 
John  Marson,  Doc.  Kurth. 


APPENDIX  TO  FATHER  ALBERT  EVERS 


99 


John   Sebastian 


John    Schenke 


Members  of  the  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  Society,  1914:  Paul 
Lausch,  H.  Waskowski,  Andrew  Traub,  John  Fensterle,  Sr., 
Alb.  Orsada,  Adam  Schuminski,  L.  Honikel,  F.  Witt,  L. 
Schneider,  N.  Herbst,  P.  Meiser,  J.  Puets,  Ig.  Balousek. 

Members  of  the  Choir,  1914:  Marcella  Korthals,  Eliza' 
beth  Rominski,  Mary  Rominski,  Alma  Dombrowski,  May 
Balousek,  Anna  Fischer,  Florence  Schroeder,  M.  Rosen- 
meyer,  M.  Pettinger,  Gertrude  Mees,  Tillie  Scholl,  Constance 
Korthals,  Magdalen  Thomas,  John  Dechmann,  Michael 
Leber,  A.  Wittinger,  P.  Pettinger,  I.  F.  Schuster,  Leo  I.  Her 
mann,  Rudolph  Terlecki,  Charles  Mivalek,  Joseph  Keslinski. 

Graduates  of  1914:  Andrew  Thomas,  Charles  Gehrmann, 
John  Klupar,  Edward  Cwiklinski,  Ladisloau  Zaleski,  John 
Goethert,  Ernest  Steiner,  Charles  Koschuh,  Joseph  Gronde, 
Andrew  Thiede,  Joseph  Zappen,  Aloys  Szuminski,  Mary 
Poleretzki,  Lucy  Malkowski,  Helen  Hesser,  Olga  Ko' 
vach,  Mary  Prokosch,  Stella  Bober,  Louise  Stegmaier,  Marga' 


100  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

ret  Horbas,  Henrietta  Weschnefski,  Lydia  Kuper,  Mary  Zip' 
ser,  Clara  Dahm,  Leona  Wisersky,  Elisabeth  Simunich,  Helen 
Chodera. 

Graduates  1915:  Joseph  Pettinger,  Fred  Honikel,  Frank 
Niesgodski,  Arthur  Zaleski,  Leo  Wachhols,  Joseph  Zwieba, 
John  Polasik,  Peter  Wesemann,  Crescentia  Klein,  Elisabeth 
Kahnke,  Helen  Schommer,  Agnes  Huhnke,  Elisabeth  Pauly, 
Anna  Dombrowski,  Helen  Walcsykiewics,  Dela  Koob, 
Angela  Hinko,  Helen  Gewerth. 

The  Church  Choir  have  the  honor  of  giving  the  last  en' 
tertainment  of  St.  Boniface  Parish  during  the  pastorate  of 
Father  Evers,  with  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  the  graduation 
exercises  of  which  there  is  no  notice  in  the  Pfarrbote.  The 
entertainment  took  place  March  5th,  1916:  Elizabeth  Ro- 
minski,  Teresa  Rominski,  Marguerite  Dymek,  Gertrude  Dy 
mek,  Florence  Schroeder,  Helen  Stevko,  Mathilda  Goebel, 
Marguerite  Horbas,  Loretta  Schommer,  May  Stroh,  Marg' 
uerite  Zappen,  Anna  Dombrowski,  Gertrude  Mees,  Clothilde 
Scholl,  Charlotte  Dombrowski,  Magdalen  Thomas,  John 
Dechmann,  Michael  Leber,  Joseph  Pettinger,  Rudolph  Ter- 
lecki,  James  Kuns,  George  Foerster. 


FATHER  Q  A.  REMPE 

he  fifth  pastor  of  St.  Boniface  is  C.  A.  Rempe. 
His  appointment  began  the  eighth  of  July, 
1916. 

He  was  born  in  Aurora,  111.,  March  28, 
1876.  He  attended  St.  Nicholas  parochial, 
and  the  public  schools  there.  His  classical 
course  was  made  at  Teutopolis,  111.,  and  St. 
Francis,  Wis.;  his  philosophical  course  at 
Kenrick,  St.  Louis,  and  theology  in  St.  Francis,  Wisconsin. 
He  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  by  Rt.  Rev.  P.  J.  Mul- 
doon,  in  Chicago,  June  9th,  and  said  his  First  Holy  Mass 
June  10,  1906,  in  St.  Nicholas  Church,  Aurora,  Illinois.  He 
became  assistant  at  St.  Clements,  Chicago,  immediately  after' 
wards,  and  in  the  summer  of  1908  was  appointed  professor 
at  the  Cathedral  College,  where  he  remained  until  his  ap- 
pointment to  St.  Boniface. 

The  task  at  St.  Boniface  was  admittedly  almost  a  hopeless 
one.  The  interest  alone  for  a  month  amounted  to  more  than 
$600;  while  the  income  for  the  month  of  July,  the  first  month, 
was  only  $383.55.  Ordinarily  the  Sunday  income  together 
with  the  Christmas  and  Easter  collections  ought  to  defray 
the  ordinary  expenditures,  but  in  the  case  of  St.  Boniface 
they  could  be  expected  to  pay  only  a  fraction  of  the  interest. 
The  average  Sunday  income  for  July  was  $55.81. 

The  suggestion  of  the  Archbishop  was  to  take  up  a  col' 
lection  of  about  fifty  or  sixty  thousand  dollars.  This  would 
have  meant  an  average  of  $250  or  $300  for  each  family 
according  to  the  census  available;  in  fact,  however,  it  would 

101 


Reverend  C.  A.  Rempe 

Present  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface  Church 


102 


FATHER  C.  A.  REMPE  103 

have  been  necessary  to  assess  each  family  six  hundred  dollars. 
This  was  obviously  impossible,  and  would  have  been  unfair 
also,  because  even  raising  this  large  amount  would  not  have 
assured  the  parish  of  permanent  existence,  as  the  remaining 
debt  would  still  be  intolerable,  and  the  sacrifice  in  vain. 

A  census  was  taken  up  in  the  summer  of  1916  to  see  what 
resources  were  present.  The  only  census  available  was  that 
taken  up  in  1914.  The  census  of  1914  had  not  been  taken  up 
by  the  priests  but  by  the  laity.  It  proved  to  be  a  recopy  of 
some  former  census.  To  illustrate  its  futility:  We  had 
thirty  names  on  Chicago  Avenue,  between  Racine  and  Ash' 
land,  of  these  thirty  only  six  could  be  located.  The  petition 
signed  by  about  225  purported  members  of  the  parish  also 
proved  useless,  as  it  was  found  that  they  were  in  great  part 
the  signatures  of  any  accommodating  saloon  or  store  keeper 
in  the  neighborhood,  who  was  very  much  surprised  to  hear 
that  he  was  expected  to  be  a  member  of  St.  Boniface.  It  was 
finally  decided  to  throw  both  lists  away  and  make  a  house  to 
house  canvass.  The  summer  of  1916  is  memorable  in  Chi- 
cago as  being  the  hottest  on  record.  The  mercury  was  in 
the  nineties  day  after  day  and  week  after  week  during  the 
months  of  July  and  August  and  a  part  of  September.  The 
experience  of  those  few  months,  in  which  thousands  of  stairs 
were  climbed,  and  the  priests  returned  home  every  day  wring' 
ing  wet  with  perspiration  will  never  be  forgotten.  But  the 
Sunday  attendance  which  in  the  beginning  was  less  than  300 
adults  began  to  increase.  The  average  Sunday  income  in 
December,  1916,  was  $95.25. 

In  the  meanwhile  a  bazaar  had  been  conducted  which 
netted  $3,854.64  compared  to  $1,472.92  of  the  preceding 
year,  and  the  Christmas  collection  which  in  1915  had  been 
$1,105.20  rose  to  $1,852.92.    While  on  the  census  we  had 


Interior  of  St.  Boniface  Church  After  Decorating 


104 


FATHER  C.  A.  REMPE  10) 

taken  any  money  that  was  offered,  although  we  never  asked 
for  it,  and  the  largest  amount  we  received  was  $25  on  two 
occasions.  But  the  increasing  revenues  put  the  parish  over 
the  top  for  the  first  year.  $1,500  had  been  paid  off,  and 
there  was  a  balance  of  $1,197.65,  where  there  had  been 
nothing  in  July.  The  paying  of  the  $1,500  was  more  of  a 
gesture  calculated  to  inspire  the  congregation  with  a  little 
hope  than  anything  else,  because  it  really  should  have  been 
for  repairs  which  were  needed  everywhere. 

In  1917  the  mortgage  and  notes  were  changed  to  a  more 
favorable  rate  of  interest,  but  even  so  the  interest  for  that 
year  was  $6,975.37;  and  $2,039.39  were  spent  for  repairs, 
so  that  nothing  was  paid  off  the  second  year. 

These  tiresome  figures  are  given  so  much  prominence  here, 
in  order  that  the  difficulties  may  be  properly  appreciated,  and 
because  after  all  they  were  the  most  important  mission  of 
Father  Rempe. 

The  parish  now  is  in  a  fair  condition  financially.  The  debt 
has  been  reduced  to  $95,000.  The  decoration  of  the  church 
and  the  permanent  improvements  that  have  been  made  in  the 
ten  years  amount  to  over  $35,000.  At  the  present  rate  of 
progress  which  is  getting  better  year  by  year,  the  debt  should 
be  wiped  out  in  six  or  seven  years. 

The  average  adult  attendance  in  1916  was  400;  in  1925  it 
was  1,400.  The  average  Sunday  income  for  1916  was  $80: 
for  1925  it  was  $338.  The  Easter  collection  in  1916  was 
$1,154;  in  1926  it  was  $6,000. 

But  while  the  revenues  of  the  parish  have  increased,  its 
expenditures  have  increased  in  even  greater  proportion  with 
the  exception  of  interest.  The  best  illustration  is  the  diocesan 
taxes  for  various  purposes;  in  1916  the  total  tax  for  the 
diocese  was  $397;  in  1926  they  will  be  over  $7,000. 


Reverend  Joseph  Gehrig 
Present  Curate  at  St.  Boniface 


106 


FATHER  C.  A.  REMPE  107 

In  the  beginning,  when  the  ordinary  revenue  was  totally 
insufficient,  the  bulk  of  the  money  was  raised  by  extraordi- 
nary means  such  as  fairs,  etc.  It  has  been  the  aim  of  the  pastor 
to  increase  the  ordinary  revenues,  and  rely  upon  fairs,  etc., 
only  for  extraordinary  occasions.  It  is  not  customary  in  St. 
Boniface  to  talk  about  gifts  to  the  church.  The  contribu' 
tions  at  Easter,  Christmas  and  other  occasions  specified  are 
called  dues,  exactly  what  they  are;  and  all  parish  members 
recognize  very  well  that  they  have  to  be  made,  if  they  wish 
to  maintain  their  parish  membership.  No  one  is  considered 
or  treated  as  a  parish  member  unless  he  complies  with  the 
parish  regulations  in  regard  to  these  contributions.  Com' 
pared  to  other  parishes,  St.  Boniface  is  by  no  means  large,  but 
it  is  a  parish  in  which  everybody  pays,  or  gives  the  reason 
why  not.  To  depend  upon  the  old  haphazard  methods  of 
raising  money  is  injurious  not  only  to  the  parish,  but  also  tG 
the  members;  throwing  the  burden  upon  the  few,  and  depriv 
ing  the  many  from  God's  blessing  which  results  from  every 
contribution  to  His  Church. 

In  passing  it  might  be  well  to  mention  that  financial  diffi- 
culties were  not  the  only  ones  which  were  encountered.  It 
will  be  remembered  that  one  of  the  plans  to  save  St.  Boniface 
was  to  entrust  the  parish  to  the  direction  of  the  Franciscan 
Fathers.  Many  of  the  people  had  become  infatuated  with 
the  idea,  and  it  is  but  just  to  say  that  they  had  the  interest  of 
the  parish  at  heart.  The  first  few  Sundays,  therefore,  a  fact 
which  became  known  to  the  new  pastor  only  a  long  time 
afterward,  they  tried  to  dissuade  the  parishioners,  coming  to 
mass,  from  entering  the  church,  hoping  to  discourage  him  by 
the  meagre  attendance.  These  same  people  in  a  short  time 
became  some  of  the  best  workers. 

Another  difficulty  was  the  indifference  or  rather  hostility 


108  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Christ  Manheim 


of  the  Polish  people  surrounding  the  church.  Father  Evers 
entertained  no  friendly  feeling  for  the  Poles;  by  settling  in 
the  neighborhood  of  his  church,  they  had  been  the  innocent 
cause  of  the  decline  of  the  parish.  On  many  occasions  he 
even  uttered  his  dislike  in  public.  In  reciprocation  St.  Boni- 
face Church  and  its  priests  were  thoroughly  disliked  by  the 
Poles.  On  the  arrival  of  the  new  priests  this  dislike  naturally 
was  transferred  to  them.  No  one  ever  tipped  his  hat;  on 
meeting  them  in  the  streets,  they  always  looked  aside,  or  re- 
garded  the  priests  with  evident  hostility.  This  conduct  is 
utterly  out  of  keeping  with  the  character  of  this  nation, 
which  has  the  greatest  respect  and  love  for  a  Catholic  priest. 
After  a  few  months  of  this  chilling  atmosphere,  the  pastor 
told  his  assistant,  we  have  to  break  down  this  barrier;  after 
this  I  am  going  to  tip  my  hat  to  every  man  and  woman  on 
the  street,  and  to  talk  to  every  child.  The  surprise  and 
amazement  on  the  faces  of  the  people  when  they  were  greeted 
in  this  friendly  manner  was  sometimes  comical  to  see.  But  it 
was  not  long  before  they  responded.     Soon  everybody  was 


FATHER  C.  A.  REMPE  109 

smiling,  and  all  were  happy  to  think  that  German  priests 
could  be  such  agreeable  people. 

The  good  will  of  the  people,  however,  was  definitely 
gained  on  Pentecost  Sunday,  1917.  On  that  day  the  public 
school  children  of  our  neighborhood  made  their  First  Holy 
Communion.  As  soon  as  he  arrived,  Father  Rempe  had  be- 
gun the  study  of  the  Polish  language.  It  is  not  easy  to  learn 
a  new  language,  and  such  a  language  at  the  age  of  forty.  But 
on  Pentecost  Sunday  he  thought  that  he  had  learned  enough 
to  preach.  The  occasion  really  demanded  a  Polish  sermon. 
The  parents  of  all  the  children  were  Polish,  and  many  of 
them  could  not  understand  English.  From  the  fact  that  the 
children  were  attending  public  schools,  and  the  fact  that 
many  of  them  knew  very  little  about  religion,  the  parents 
evidently  were  negligent  in  the  practice  of  their  faith.  But 
they  seemed  to  be  happy  in  the  thought  that  they  got  a  good 
reprimand  in  their  own  language. 

But  the  results  of  this  Polish  sermon  were  not  all  pleas- 
ant.  As  Father  Venn  had  been  accused  of  trying  to  make 
the  parish  Irish,  when  he  read  a  letter  of  the  Archbishop  in 
English,  so  Father  Rempe  was  accused  of  making  the  parish 
Polish.  But  all  such  accusers  were  told  that  if  they  wanted 
the  parish  to  remain  exclusively  German,  they  would  have 
to  contribute  about  ten  times  as  much  as  they  were  giving. 
This  argument  silenced  everyone  of  them. 

Another  effect  of  this  Polish  sermon,  and  others  which 
followed  on  special  occasions,  an  effect  more  unpleasant  still 
and  more  enduring,  was  the  fact  that  it  attracted  the  sus- 
picions of  Polish  priests.  It  is  but  natural  that  they  should 
think  that  the  pastor  of  St.  Boniface  was  trying  to  attract 
their  people  and  wean  them  from  their  own  parishes,  where 
they  really  belonged.     But  while  this  suspicion  is  only  nat- 


110 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Frank  Wiedel 


Andrew  Korthals 


ural,  it  is  unjustified.  To  appreciate  this  requires  an  under- 
standing of  the  whole  situation,  and  also  an  understanding 
of  the  invariable  policy  of  Father  Rempe. 

After  the  census  it  was  evident  that  there  were  not  enough 
German  people  in  the  vicinity  to  maintain  the  encumbered 
parish.  We  had  to  acquire  new  parishioners.  The  neigh' 
borhood  is  almost  entirely  Catholic,  but  they  are  Polish 
Catholics.  To  take  them  away  from  their  own  parishes 
would  be  unethical,  even  if  it  were  possible.  But  to  take 
them  away  from  their  own  parishes  would  be  even  worse 
than  unethical,  it  would  be  decidedly  to  the  detriment  of 
religion.  The  Catholic  faith  is  the  same  in  all  the  nations 
of  the  world.  But  each  nation  has  its  own  temperament. 
We  Germans,  for  instance,  consider  the  services  in  an  Irish 
church  very  cold  and  formal.  The  difference  between  the 
German  and  the  Irish  is  well  illustrated  in  the  different  man" 
ner  in  which  we  conduct  the  Forty  Hour  Devotion,  and  the 


FATHER  C.  A.  REMPE  111 

celebration  of  First  Holy  Communion.  But  the  difference 
in  the  services  in  a  German  and  a  Polish  church  are  even 
more  pronounced.  When  learning  the  Polish  language  I 
often  visited  Polish  churches,  especially  during  Lent.  The 
deep  devotion  of  the  whole  congregation,  their  fervor,  their 
emotion  and  sorrow  in  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  in  short  their 
lively  participation  in  all  the  transactions,  while  they  inspire 
the  greatest  respect  and  admiration,  also  show  the  impos- 
sibility  of  imitation.  To  deprive  a  Catholic  who  has  been 
accustomed  to  such  intense  religion,  of  these  beautiful  cere- 
monies, is  to  take  something  out  of  his  life  which  is  of  real 
value,  and  in  the  end  can  only  produce  indifference  and  per- 
haps final  loss  of  faith.  It  never,  therefore,  was  the  intention 
or  even  the  hope  of  the  pastor  of  St.  Boniface  to  draw  these 
people  from  their  own  parishes. 

But  while  the  census  proved  the  insufficiency  of  the 
German  element,  it  also  showed  that  a  large  percentage  of 
the  Polish  population  was  not  affiliated  with  any  parish. 
There  were  first  of  all  those  who  had  attended  public  school. 
Some  of  them  had  made  their  First  Communion,  either  in  St. 
Boniface  Church  or  some  other  non-Polish  parish  in  the 
neighborhood;  others  had  never  been  to  confession  or  com- 
munion; there  are  literally  thousands  of  these  in  our  neigh- 
borhood. Most  of  them  were  born  and  raised  in  this  coun- 
try, scarcely  understanding  Polish.  Others  though  born 
abroad  have  become  lax  in  the  performance  of  their  religious 
duties;  among  these  are  generally  the  parents  of  the  children, 
who  make  their  First  Holy  Communion  in  our  church.  Here 
was  indeed  a  large  and  legitimate  field  of  labor  and  recruits 
for  St.  Boniface  Parish.  And  it  is  from  these  that  the  parish 
has  grown. 

Now  as  regards  the  policy  of  the  priests  of  St.  Boniface  in 


112  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


John  Neii 


Fred  Grzegowski 


the  reception  of  new  members.  It  has  taken  time  to  crystal' 
ize  this  policy,  as  it  has  taken  time  to  get  acquainted  with  all 
the  elements  of  the  situation.  New  people  generally  come  to 
the  parish  house,  for  sick  calls,  funerals,  baptisms,  marriages. 
It  had  been  decided  for  the  reason  stated  above,  right  in  the 
beginning,  that  we  should  take  none  that  belonged  to  other 
parishes,  although  in  the  beginning  we  had  no  occasion  to  ex' 
ercise  this  decision:  good  parish  members  always  go  to  their 
own  parish  church.  We  had  no  scruples  about  taking 
people  that  belonged  to  no  parish.  But  in  course  of  time  we 
realized  that  harm  might  be  done  even  by  this  apparently 
good  and  innocent  action.  It  is  the  rule  of  the  Church  that 
every  Catholic  must  belong  to  some  parish;  it  is  only  in  this 
parish  that  he  and  his  children  should  and  can  receive  the  sac 
raments.  Membership  in  a  parish,  however,  in  this  country 
means  contributing  one's  share  to  the  parish  maintenance. 
There  are  always  some  people  who  try  to  shirk  this  duty. 


FATHER  C.  A.  REMPE  113 

To  minister  to  people  indiscriminantly  is  to  encourage  them 
in  an  attitude  which  does  them  harm.  The  following  rules 
are  the  product  of  observation:  With  the  exception  of  the 
Sacraments  of  Pennance  and  Holy  Eucharist  over  which 
there  can  be  no  control,  we  do  not  give  service  to  people 
who  are  regular  members  of  other  parishes.  In  the  case  of 
people  who  belong  nowhere,  we  try  to  show  them  the  justice 
of  parish  membership  and  the  necessity  of  parish  support.  If 
we  cannot  make  them  see  our  position  we  render  no  service. 
If  they  wish  to  join  our  parish,  we  tell  them  exactly  what 
is  expected  of  them  financially,  and  assure  them  that  unless 
they  comply  scrupulously,  no  further  service  shall  be  given. 

The  thing  that  has,  perhaps,  done  the  most  for  the  regen- 
eration of  the  parish  is  the  public  school  children's  commun- 
ion class.  This  class  was  begun  by  Father  Adams  at  the 
suggestion  of  Father  Lyons,  S.  J.  It  was  for  many  years  con- 
ducted by  Miss  Elizabeth  Smith,  a  teacher  of  the  Peabody 
School.  For  over  ten  years  she  spent  a  great  deal  of  her  time 
in  instructing  the  children  and  in  securing  other  teachers  to 
help  in  the  work.  When  God  rewards  her  for  wonderful 
sacrifice,  it  will  be  a  great  reward  indeed.  Since  1924  the 
class  has  been  conducted  by  the  following  teachers:  Mary 
X.  Rice,  Helen  Stamm,  May  G.  Leavy,  Mary  Joyce,  Mary 
Donaski,  Sophia  Shaefer,  Rosalie  C.  Barkdull. 

Father  Rempe  immediately  recognized  the  possibilities  in 
this  class.  The  number  of  children  making  their  first  com- 
munion every  year  has  averaged  300.  If  only  a  small  portion 
of  this  number  remained  in  the  parish,  it  would  mean  a  large 
parish  in  the  course  of  years.  The  First  Communion  of  these 
children,  therefore,  was  conducted  with  the  greatest  possible 
ceremony;  their  addresses  were  preserved  and  they  received 
a  postal  card  each  month,  reminding  them  to  receive  Holy 


114 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Barth.    Hotton 


Chas.  P.  Koob 


Communion  the  first  Sunday  of  each  month.  A  great  many 
of  these  children  have  become  good  practical  Catholics,  even 
bringing  in  their  negligent  parents  and  friends.  Quite  a  few 
of  them  have  remained  in  the  parish,  some  are  married  and 
have  families  of  their  own;  they  form  a  large  and  good  por- 
tion of  St.  Boniface  Parish. 

Another  factor  of  greatest  importance  is  the  fervor  and 
zeal  and  ability  of  the  assistant  priests.  Among  these,  Father 
Harnischmacher  deserves  the  first  place  not  only  for  the 
length  of  service  which  was  almost  ten  years,  but  especially 
for  his  zeal  and  devotion;  if  it  had  been  his  own  parish  he 
could  not  have  worked  better.  The  other  priests  are  Fathers 
John  Rondzik,  now  pastor  of  St.  Joseph  Church,  Aloys 
Schmitz,  now  pastor  of  Round  Lake,  F.  L.  Kalvelage,  and 
Joseph  Gehrig.  All  of  them  have  given  their  best  efforts  to 
the  parish  and  each  one  of  them  endeared  himself  to  the 
parishioners.    May  God  reward  them  for  their  work. 


FATHER  C.  A.  REMPE  115 

The  decoration  of  the  church  has  been  the  great  event  in 
the  parish,  and  itself  helped  considerably  to  building  up  the 
parish.  People  like  to  go  to  a  beautiful  church.  It  was  done 
in  1922  and  together  with  the  repairs,  lighting,  sidewalks  and 
roofs  cost  $20,000.  Following  are  the  names  of  those  who 
made  the  regular  contribution  of  $25  and  more: 

John  F.  Becker,  Anna  Behrendt,  $36;  August  Behnke, 
Andreas  Blank,  Engelbert  Blum,  $30;  Helen  Braun,  Henry 
Brod,  Barney  Brosowski,  Children  of  Mary,  $250;  Frank 
Cwerenc,  $30;  Rudolph  Cwerenc,  Edw.  A.  Cwiklinski, 
Adele  Dinet,  John  Doerr,  Leo  Dymek,  Roman  Dymek,  An' 
ton  Ennesser,  $30;  Rose  Ennesser,  Karoline  Fachet,  John 
Fensterle,  J.  A.  Fensterle,  Theresa  Fensterle,  Gertrude  Fied' 
ler,  John  W.  Fiedler,  John  A.  Fleming,  $50;  John  Frey,  $63; 
Richard  Geiger,  Herome  Gerlach,  August  Gewelke,  Mary 
Giere,  $30;  John  Girsch,  Paul  Girsch,  $27;  Frank  Glueck, 
Leo  Golembiewski,  $20;  Chas.  Golly,  $50;  W.  A.  Goslinow 
ski,  $30;  Lawrence  Greene,  Robert  Gronde,  August  Grze- 
gowski,  Fred  Grzegowski,  $55;  Mrs.  Jos.  Harmet,  $20;  Chas. 
Hart,  Josephine  Hartwig,  Cecylia  Hat,  $35;  Veronica  Heinle, 
$30;  Marie  Hesser,  $40;  John  Hewelt,  $35;  Magdalena  Hipe- 
lius,  Mary  Hoff,  Cath.  Holm,  $46;  Lorens  Honikel,  $45: 
Anton  Kahler,  Mrs.  F.  Kendzierski,  $50;  Valentin  KerU, 
$20;  Felix  Kilichowski,  $20;  Jos.  Kitowski,  Mrs.  Jos.  Klein, 
$24;  Grace  Klein,  $22;  Geo.  R.  Knippen,  Andrew  Koob, 
$45;  Chas.  Koob,  Martin  A.  Koop,  Mrs.  Andrew  Korthals, 
$40;  Constance  Korthals,  Joe  Kosac,  Mrs.  Julia  Kosac,  Joseph 
Kotlengar,  Mrs.  Jos.  Krecmarek,  Joseph  Krejci,  F.  F.  Kreyetz;- 
ski,  Anna  Kristan,  Mary  Kristan,  Theresa  Kristan,  Henry 
Kruegel,  Joseph  Kruse,  $30;  Mrs.  Kuszynski,  Anton  O.  Lan- 
des,  $45;  Tony  LaRocco,  $20;  Mrs.  Peter  Laux,  $23;  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Leahy,  Chas.  Legrand,  $27;  Frank  Levand,  $22: 


116 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Carl   Bors 


Anthony  La  Rocco 


Frank  Lewandowski,  $26;  John  W.  Ludwig,  Bruno  Lukose- 
wicz,  Anna  Lutske,  Thomas  Madden,  Elisabeth  Marach, 
John  Mathia,  $20;  Adam  Mayer,  $100;  George  Mayer,  $50: 
Peter  Meiser,  $22;  Gertrude  Meyer,  Eleanore  Meyer,  John 
Mikolitsch,  $40;  Joseph  Milkowski,  Pauline  Milkowski, 
Hugo  B.  Miller,  Joseph  Miller,  John  Moeller,  Jerry  Murphy, 
Anthony  J.  Nau,  $27;  John  Nau,  Thomas  Neton,  $26;  Peter 
Nowak,  Albert  Orzada,  Anton  Orsada,  Joseph  Palatine,  $50; 
Paul  Patrickus,  $20;  John  C.  Paul,  $61;  John  C.  Pawelczyk, 
$20;  V.  M.  Popowics,  George  Prena,  $35;  Peter  Pubance, 
John  T.  Puetz;,  Stella  Radzimski,  A.  and  P.  Rasko,  $22;  Max 
Raskow,  $50;  Al.  J.  Reisel,  $25;  John  L.  Reisel,  $20;  Max 
ReUek,  Anna  Ritter,  Gus  Roggenbaum,  $45;  Frank  Romnv 
ski,  $22;  August  N.  Rozek,  $22;  Andrew  Sass,  Josephine 
Sass,  Amalia  Sayscke,  Joseph  Saycke,  $20;  Anton  Schabelski, 
$22;  Wm.  H.  Schiefer,  $22;  F.  W.  Schiele,  $63;  John  Schlitt, 
Katherina  Schmidt,  $50;  Elizabeth  Schmitt,  $25;  Michael 


FATHER  C.  A.  REMPE  117 

Schmidt,  $37;  Barabara  Scholl,  Mass  Servers,  Mrs.  M.  Sied' 
ler,  Mrs.  H.  L.  Sievers,  Victor  Simunich,  $60;  John  Skokan, 
J.  M.  Skokna,  John  Skummer,  Joseph  Sorn,  Thomas  Spayer, 
Paul  Spenner,  Bernard  Stegmaier,  Elisabeth  Steib,  Rose  Sten' 
zel,  $26;  Mrs.  Hugo  Tabert,  $20;  Joseph  Telesnicke,  Frank 
Teschke,  $65;  Mary  Thomas,  John  Tichelaar,  Mathilda 
Tocki,  Johan  Topp,  Joseph  Totke,  $40;  Felix  Usdrowski,  Dr. 
Chas.  Venn,  $46;  Charles  Venn,  $100;  John  Wachhob, 
George  Wagner,  $31;  Hattie  Wagner,  Robert  Wankel,  Chas. 
L.  Warnicke,  $20;  Hypolit  Waskowski,  $22;  Mary  Welch, 
Mary  Wesemann,  $30;  Bernard  Willmann,  $26;  Rudolph 
Winter,  $22;  Peter  J.  Wisniewski,  Ferdinand  Witt,  $30; 
Helen  Wruck,  John  Wruck,  Rose  Young,  J.  L.  Zappen, 
Jacob  Ziert,  $45;  Henry  Dinet,  $100;  Ignatz,  Chudsik,  J.  J. 
Curran,  William  Fisher,  August  Gewelke,  William  Gewerth, 
W.  H.  Nelles,  Peter  Zappen,  John  Dechman,  Frank  Paw 
letzki,  Paul  Tuszynski,  F.  C.  Voss,  Albert  Migalla,  N.  C. 
Nau,  John  T.  Neu,  Joe  Theis,  M.  P.  Gats,  Paul  Kaleth, 
L.  J.  Barta,  John  F.  Becker,  $27;  John  Henke,  Catherine 
Kelly,  John  Krajecki,  $125;  Christopher  Columbus  Ct.  C.  O. 
F.,  Carolina  Kunsa,  Catherine  Mohr. 

During  this  time  the  stained  glass  windows  in  the  church 
were  all  donated  by  members  or  friends  of  the  parish.  The 
order  in  which  the  donations  were  made  is  the  following: 
Mary  Welch,  $1,000  large  rose  and  panel  window;  12  large 
nave  windows,  costing  $290  each,  Kristan  family,  W.  H. 
Nelles,  Dr.  Chas.  Venn,  Theodore  Rozek,  Mary  Wesemann, 
Gertrude  Brucker,  Korthals  family,  Max  Dombrowski,  Chil- 
dren of  Mary,  Victor  Simunich,  Sass  family,  John  Hellmuth. 
Two  of  these  donors  are  especially  to  be  mentioned:  Ger- 
trude Brucker  gave  $1,000  for  her  window  during  the  time 
of  Father  Evers,  the  money,  however,  had  been  used  for 


118  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

more  urgent  needs;  after  her  death  at  the  time  the  windows 
were  installed,  her  son  and  other  relatives,  kindly  were  satis- 
fled  with  the  installation  of  a  cheaper  window.  The  window 
given  by  the  Sass  family  is  in  the  choir,  and  the  name  cannot 
be  read  from  below.  Another  window  of  equal  sise  is  in  the 
stairway  leading  to  the  choir.  It  was  installed  from  parish 
funds  as  the  money  had  been  long  ago  collected  and  donated 
by  the  Ladies'  Catholic  Benevolent  Society.  The  transom 
windows  costing  $  1 1 0  each  were  donated  by  Louise  Venn, 
Christ  Manheim,  Charles  Koob.  The  four  lower  windows 
at  a  cost  of  $90  each  were  donated  by  Mary  Welch,  Martin 
A.  Koop,  Joseph  Skokna,  Hieronimus  Gerlach.  The  win- 
dows in  the  baptistry  were  donated  by  Albert  Rosenberger, 
Frank  Wiedel,  John  Weidemann,  Mrs.  Weiser.  Their  cost 
was  $100  each.  The  four  windows,  one  behind  each  confes- 
sional, at  a  cost  of  $360  were  donated  in  memory  of  Adele 
Dinet,  by  her  children  Henry  Dinet  and  Louise  Venn. 

During  this  time  the  following  larger  donations  have  been 
made:  Lizzie  Salm,  $2,000;  Mary  Schulu,  $4,000;  Cather- 
ine Schmidt,  $1,500;  Mrs.  Biermann,  $500;  Mrs.  Demes, 
$500;  and  the  following  each  a  gift  of  $250:  Carl  Willma, 
Josephine  Sass,  Simon  Sass,  Anna  Krajecki,  John  Krajecki, 
Mary  Wesemann,  Andrew  Korthals. 

Great  credit  is  due  also  to  the  Sisters  of  our  school  for  the 
renewal  of  the  parish,  especially  the  sister  superiors,  Sister 
Julia,  Sister  Marcellina,  Sister  Blanche,  and  Sister  Cornelia; 
not  only  in  the  fact  that  they  have  maintained  our  school  in 
the  front  rank  of  similar  institutions,  but  also  because  they 
rendered  the  most  important  service  for  the  progress  of  the 
parish.  The  work  also  of  Sister  Albertine  Kongorski,  a  child 
of  our  parish,  in  the  first  most  trying  years  cannot  be  for- 
gotten. 


FATHER  C.  A.  REMPE  119 

Louise  Venn  and  Mary  Welch  donated  the  Statue  of  St. 
Rita;  and  Mary  Welch  donated  the  Statue  of  the  Little 
Flower  of  Jesus;  the  St.  Ann's  Altar  Society,  founded  in 
1 920  by  zealous  women  of  the  parish,  who  have  done  a  lot  of 
good  work.  The  St.  Ann's  statue  was  purchased  with  the 
proceeds  of  a  popular  subscription.  Tillie  Scholl  made  all  the 
beautiful  antipendia  of  various  colors  used  on  the  big  feast 
day;  and  Constance  Korthals  has  donated  much  altar  linen 
made  by  herself. 

It  is  impossible  to  even  mention  all  who  have  been  zealous 
in  the  progress  of  the  parish,  but  God  will  not  forget  one. 

The  following  appreciation  will  perhaps  convey  the  spirit 
of  the  parish  better  than  anything  else.  It  appeared  in  the 
Pfarrbote  May,  1920: 

"It  is  pleasant  for  me  and  I  am  sure  not  disagreeable  for  you 
to  reflect  and  to  speak  about  our  last  success,  the  Easter  col' 
lection.  .  .  .  The  impossible  has  happened:  Who,  even 
including  myself,  thought  that  we  really  could  raise  $4,000. 
And  now  we  are  actually  above  it,  and  by  the  time  our  next 
calendar  appears  promise  to  be  far  beyond.  ...  In  point 
of  numbers  we  are  the  smallest  German  parish  in  the  city, 
and  yet  our  collection  is  almost  twice  the  size  of  our  nearest 
competitor,  a  parish  which  has  four  times  as  many  members. 
In  proportion  that  parish  should  have  $16,000.  .  .  .  How 
do  we  do  it?  Let  me  tell  what  I  think.  ...  If  you  study 
the  list  you  will  find  the  same  names  again  and  again.  It  con- 
tains 1,231  contributors:  644  adults,  214  young  men  and 
women,  311  school  children,  62  children  below  school  age. 
It  means  that  every  member  of  the  family  from  the  child  in 
the  cradle  to  the  poor  old  widow  is  doing  his  share.  It  means 
that  everyone  who  comes  to  mass  on  Sunday  has  his  name  on 
the  list.    As  I  was  writing  this  a  boy  came  to  the  office  with 


120  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 

fifty  cents,  afraid  that  he  might  be  too  late  to  make  the  list. 
Of  the  214  young  people,  43  gave  $5  or  more;  two  of  them 
boys  who  started  to  work  last  fall.  Can  you  beat  that  in  any 
parish  in  the  city?  Doesn't  that  explain  our  success?  Our 
parish  has  few  wealthy  members;  and  yet  40  gave  ten  and 
330  gave  five  dollar  bills.  God  knows  I  realise  what  it  means 
for  many;  it  means  sacrifice,  it  means  doing  without  things 
that  you  want  and  need.  It  is  an  honor  to  be  in  such  com- 
pany to  have  one's  name  on  such  a  list.  .  .  .  While  at 
times  I  have  asked  a  great  deal  of  you,  I  am  happy  to  say  that 
you  have  never  faltered.  You  have  done  your  duty  not 
grudgingly,  but  gladly  and  willingly,  too  proud  to  complain, 
I  wish  to  thank  you  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  and  I  pray 
that  God  may  keep  you  always,  and  bless  and  reward  you  a 
hundredfold/  (Signed)  C.  A.  Rempe. 


THE  BOOSTERS1  CLUB 

t  the  arrival  of  Father  Rempe  as  Pastor  of 
the  parish,  in  July  of  1916,  the  young  people 
of  the  parish  determined  to  form  an  organ' 
iz;ation  to  promote  and  foster  an  interest  in 
its  social  life.  It  was  to  be  composed  of  all 
young  people,  married  and  single,  and  its 
purpose  was  to  help  the  pastor  in  any  way 
possible  in  his  difficult  task.  Father  Rempe 
readily  consented  to  the  plan,  and  an  organisation  meeting 
was  held,  at  which  nearly  two  hundred  members  were  en- 
rolled. An  election  was  held  at  which  the  following  officers 
were  elected: 

President,  Arthur  F.  Terlecke 
Vice-President,  Mrs.  Anna  Dymek 
Secretary,  Margaret  Dymek 
Treasurer,  George  Traub 

The  new  Club  met  on  the  first  Monday  of  every  month, 
and  gave  a  social  every  two  or  three  months.  The  outstand- 
ing events  of  the  first  year  were  a  Valentine  Party  on  Febru- 
ary 9th,  a  dance  on  May  8th,  and  a  picnic  on  July  29th,  1917. 
Besides  this,  the  club  helped  in  all  parish  affairs. 

The  officers  for  the  year  1917  were: 

President,  George  Traub 
Vice-President,  George  Behrendt 
Secretary,  Tillie  Scholl 
Treasurer,  Joseph  Skokna 
Marshal,  Elisabeth  Hesser 


121 


Martin  Koop 


John  Fensterle,  Jr. 

122 


THE  BOOSTERS1  CLUB  123 

Executive  Commitee: 
Mrs.  Anna  Dymek 
Martin  Koop 
Joseph  Kommer 

Under  this  regime  the  club  kept  up  its  good  work  of  the 
previous  year,  and  engaged  in  the  relief  work  which  was 
necessitated  by  the  war,  the  girls  sewing  and  making  candy, 
and  the  men  aiding  in  the  sale  of  Liberty  Bonds  and  in  cheer- 
ing up  those  who  had  gone  to  join  the  colors.  In  the  interests 
of  these  enterprises,  they  gave  two  entertainments,  one  on 
December  12th,  1917,  and  the  other  on  January  27th,  1918. 
The  election  of  officers  put  the  following  members  at  the 
helm  for  the  year  1918: 

President,  George  Behrendt 
Vice-President,  Andrew  Korthals 
Secretary,  Tillie  Scholl 
Treasurer,  Joseph  Skokna 
Marshall,  Martin  Koop 
During  this  term  the  Club  tried  nobly  to  keep  up  its  fine 
record,  but  was  forced  by  circumstances  to  write  up  a  finer 
record  of  patriotism.    The  drafts  and  voluntary  enlistments 
so  cut  into  the  number  of  male  members  that  it  was  impossible 
to  continue  along  the  lines  of  its  constitution.    So,  after  the 
year  was  up,  it  disbanded  until  a  more  favorable  time.  Mean- 
while many  of  its  members  moved  to  other  parts  of  the  city 
and  it  was  never  reorganized. 


Rose  Kiessling 


124 


THE  ST.  BONIFACE  CHURCH  CHOIR 
18654926 


uring  this  period  the  choir  consisted  of  about 
fifty  to  sixty  members.  They  sang  at  the 
High  Masses  on  Sunday  mornings,  at  the 
various  evening  devotions,  and  at  nearly 
every  social  affair  given  by  the  various  parish 
organisations.  The  ecclesiastical  music 
which  they  used  was  strictly  Gregorian. 
Their  concert  numbers  by  the  best  classical 
and  modern  German  composers.  The  directors  during  this 
period  were: 

Clement  Hutter 

John  Stemper 

August  Mueller 

W.  Heyer 

B.  Hotten 


Nicholas  Keimers 
Nicholas  Alles 
Edw.  Ederer 
Edw.  Meiler 
Johann  Rolf 


Siter  M.  Fidelis 
Sister  M.  Stanislas 
Sister  M.  Ottilia 
Sister  M.  Alcantara 


Among  the  members  who  sang  for  several  years  were  the 
following: 


John  Reisel 
Matt  Reisel 
Joe  Reisel 
Martin   Koop 
Julius  Weske 
Felix  Schommer 
John  Stahl 
Albert  Barski 
Otto  Jaeger 
Andrew  Korthals 
Tohn  Puetz 


Arthur  Terlecke 
Clement  Demes 
John  Demes 
James  Voss 
Joe  Voss 
Henry  Venn 
Herman  Bredel 
Leo  Juhnke 
George  Traub 
Casper  Hochstetter 
Michael  Laux 


Rudolph  Terlecke 
Jack  Lauer 
Matt.  Braun 
Jos.  Hermann 
Phil.  Wink 
John  Zimmerman 
George  Demes 
John  Gryzbowski 
N.    A.    Schommer 
John  Miller 
Tohn  Bauer 


125 


126 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 


John  Dechmann 

Irene  Marino 
Martha  Hartwig 
Anna  Koslik 
Constance  Korthals 
Marcella  Korthals 
Frances  Kotlenger 
Frances  Weber 
Rose  Kiesling 
Tillie  Scholl 


Joseph   Skokna 
John  Pettinger 
Gertrude  Mees 
Margaret  Dymek 
Gertrude  Dymek 
Alice  Bredel 
Anna  Buntrock 
Anna  Fabritz 
Sabina  Koch 
Anna  Kutcher 
Frances  Kutcher 


Carl  Venn 

Christina  Kutcher 
Kate  Burkhardt 
Mary  Engeln 
Dorothy  Bies 
Elizabeth   Rominski 
Mary  Rominski 
Clara  Dombrowski 
Alma  Dombrowski 
Clara  Behrendt 


During  the  period  from  19004918  a  vested  boys'  choir 
sang  the  proper  of  the  Mass  e^very  Sunday  morning  and  the 
Vespers  every  Sunday  afternoon.  The  week  day  Masses 
were  sung  by  the  children  of  the  seventh  and  eighth  grades, 
who  also  sang  at  the  7:30  Mass  on  Sunday  morning.  At  the 
9  o'clock  Mass  a  choir  composed  of  the  members  of  the 
Young  Ladies'  Sodality  furnished  the  music. 


ST.  BONIFACE  SCHOOL 


t.  Boniface  Church  is  grateful  to  the  Bene- 
dictine Fathers  from  St.  Joseph's  Church, 
who  in  the  early  6CTs  sponsored  the  erection 
of  a  school  on  the  west  side  of  the  Chicago 
River  for  the  children  who  lived  in  that 
area. 

It  was  on  the  second  Sunday  of  Septenv 
ber  in  the  year  1862,  when  the  Reverend 
Ludwig  M.  Fink,  O.S.B.,  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's  Church  called 
a  meeting  of  the  men  in  this  western  vicinity  of  Chicago  to 
determine  the  ways  and  means  of  founding  a  school  in  this 
district.  The  meeting  was  very  well  attended.  It  was  held 
in  the  fire  station  at  Erie  Street,  near  Sangamon.  Here  was 
organised  a  school  society  with  its  purpose  to  build  and  main' 
tain  German  Catholic  schools.  The  following  officers  were 
elected: 

Johann  Baumgarten,  President, 
Peter  Schommer,  Vice-President, 
Johann  Gimbel,  Recording  Secretary, 
Peter  WaUem,  Financial  Secretary, 
Bernhard  Schuenemann,  Treasurer. 
Besides  this  group  of  officers  the  assembly  voted  a  pub- 
licity and  finance  committee.     The  following  men  were 
elected  to  serve:    J.  Baumgarten,  P.  Schommer,  P.  Schons, 
P.  Schuenemann,  P.  Wakem,  P.  Weber,  M.  Schwinden,  J. 
Dunnebek  and  A.  Titus.    These  men  had  as  their  duties  to 
collect  the  monthly  subscriptions. 

It  was  further  voted  at  this  meeting  that  every  fourteen 

127 


128  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 

days  a  meeting  of  like  nature  would  be  called  and  at  the 
same  place  until  such  time  that  the  school  building  would  be 
erected.  At  the  second  meeting  of  this  group  of  men,  the 
fourth  Sunday  of  September,  1862,  sufficient  funds  were  on 
hand  to  warrant  them  to  proceed  at  once  with  the  building. 
Therefore,  a  building  committee  was  chosen  and  constituted 
J.  Baumgarten,  P.  Walzem,  P.  Schommer,  B.  Schuenemann, 
M.  Schwinden  and  P.  Weber. 

This  committee  selected  a  site  on  Chicago  Avenue  and 
Carpenter  Street.  It  was  a  small  vacant  bit  of  property, 
twenty-two  by  forty  feet.  Upon  this  location  they  were 
determined  to  build  the  school.  There  is  no  question  about 
their  determination  for  the  bids  were  let  immediately  and  the 
entire  structure  was  completed  within  two  months.  Nine 
days  before  the  feast  of  Christmas  in  1862  the  school  was 
opened,  December  16th,  1862,  with  "Teacher  Dreher"  at 
the  helm.  At  the  opening  of  the  school  the  pupil  enrollment 
numbered  thirty  children.  But  this  number  gradually  in- 
creased month  by  month,  so  that  at  the  end  of  the  first  year 
one  hundred  and  twenty  children  was  the  official  count. 

The  speed  and  manner  in  which  these  early  settlers  of  St. 
Boniface  Church  proceeded  gives  ample  proof  of  what  has 
been  said  with  regard  to  their  determination  to  give  to  their 
children  a  religious  education.  In  a  preceding  chapter  we 
praised  their  heroism,  but  by  no  means  exaggerated,  for  they 
laid  the  foundation  on  the  soil  of  faith  and  convicition  which 
gave  them  in  return  the  seeing  of  their  children  attentive  to 
their  duties  towards  God  and  zealous  for  their  own  eternal 
salvation. 

The  school  successes  of  the  finance  committee  prompted 
them  to  begin  agitation  for  the  erection  of  a  church.  In 
the  year  of  1864  they  received  sufficient  backing  to  warrant 


ST.  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  129 

the  purchase  of  vacant  property  on  the  corner  of  Noble  and 
Cornell  Streets,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  by  fifty  feet. 
Their  intention  was  to  erect  a  church  forty-four  by  eighty 
feet.  The  cost  of  the  church  was  estimated  at  $7,500.  It  is 
noteworthy  to  mention  because  of  the  soaring  prices  of  real 
estate  vacant  at  present  that  the  frontage  of  this  church 
property  was  purchased  at  ten  dollars  a  foot. 

After  the  church  had  been  erected  it  was  found  that  the 
school  location  was  no  longer  convenient  and  it  was  moved 
to  Cornell  and  Noble  Streets,  across  from  the  church. 

Father  Marshall  succeeded  Father  Albrecht  to  the  pastor- 
ate of  St.  Boniface  Church.  During  the  summer  vacation  of 
1867  Father  Marshall  urged  the  Sisters  of  St.  Francis  of 
Joliet,  Illinois,  to  teach  at  St.  Boniface  School.  The  Vener- 
able Mother  Alfred  complied  with  his  request,  and  estab- 
lished what  is  known  in  the  records  of  the  Convent  the  "Mis- 
sion of  St.  Boniface."  Sister  M.  Francis  and  Sister  M.  Angela 
were  designated  as  teachers  with  the  former  in  the  role  of 
Superior. 

On  the  third  day  of  September,  Venerable  Mother  Alfred, 
Sister  M.  Francis,  and  a  postulant,  Miss  Helen  Droesler,  be- 
gan to  organise  the  school.  While,  of  course,  the  school  had 
been  serving  the  needs  of  the  community  since  1862,  there 
were  indeed  many  things  that  had  to  be  attended  to.  Much 
the  same  as  when  a  firm  places  a  new  head  in  a  department. 
And  yet,  there  was  this  difference  of  subsequent  hardship 
owing  to  the  fact  of  rapid-growth  of  the  community,  the 
change  of  pastors  after  a  two-year  period  and  the  great  dis- 
aster of  the  Chicago  fire,  which  called  forth  alert  maneuver- 
ing. 

We  had  mentioned  the  enrollment  of  1862  of  the  "little 
white  school  house"  as  being  one  hundred  and  twenty  pupils. 


Venerable  Mother  Angela         Venerable  Mother  M.  Francis 
First  Two  Sisters  at  St.  Boniface  School 


130 


ST-  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  131 

The  first  semester  of  1 867  registered  one  hundred  and  eighty, 
an  increase  of  sixty  children  in  about  four  years.  The  teach- 
ing staff  from  1867  to  1868  was  as  follows:  Sister  M.  Francis, 
superior;  Sister  M.  Angela,  Miss  Catherine  Tehle,  Miss 
Helen  Droessler;  both  these  latter  were  postulants.  Mr. 
Nicholas  Alles  was  in  charge  of  the  larger  boys  who  num- 
bered about  fifty.  Mr.  Nicholas  Alles  also  conducted  the 
choir  at  the  time. 

So  far  we  made  mention  of  the  building  of  the  church  and 
school,  but  nothing  was  said  of  the  sisters'  home.  Unfor- 
tunately, almost  everyone  in  the  building  of  a  parish  thinks 
of  these  "Brides  of  Christ"  last.  Whether  because  of  their 
profession  of  vows  they  deserve  so  little  consideration  of 
their  housing  problem,  or  whether  more  convenient  quarters 
would  make  them  less  subservient  to  the  Master,  we  are  not 
in  a  position  to  state.  We  do  know,  however,  that  with  all 
the  wealth  of  good  intentions  the  early  settlers  and  those 
who  followed  quite  a  number  of  years  later  evinced,  they  cer- 
tainly side-tracked  the  convenience  and  comfort  of  these 
"Servants  of  Christ." 

The  Sisters'  dwelling  was  a  small  four  room  cottage.  We 
may  have  unnecessarily  used  the  word  "small"  but  with  no 
sarcastic  insinuation.  Two  of  the  rooms  served  as  sleeping 
quarters;  a  third,  as  a  combination  kitchen  and  dining  ar- 
rangement; and  the  fourth,  in  the  form  of  a  narrow  front 
entrance,  had  to  answer  the  purpose  of  a  reception  parlor  or 
office.  In  this  room,  designated  as  the  fourth,  was  placed  a 
couch  for  seating  accommodation.  This  only  article  of  furni- 
ture filled  all  available  space  in  these  close  quarters.  There 
was  not  space  in  this  room  for  a  table  upon  which  a  lamp  may 
have  been  placed.  This  necessarily  caused,  although  many 
years  before  it  had  been  proclaimed  by  the  labor  unions,  an 


132  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 

eight  hour  day.  It  is  said  that  Venerable  Mother  Alfred 
had  christened  the  home  "the  house  of  the  angels."  She 
surely  must  have  been  resigned  to  the  inconveniences  it 
offered.  It  is  presumed  in  her  holy  and  motherly  heart  she 
considered  that  it  was  all  the  will  of  God.  It  may  be  said 
in  connection  with  this  presumption  that  whether  it  was  His 
will  or  not,  it  all  redounded  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  the 
Creator.  The  sacrifice  these  holy  souls  underwent  bespeak 
the  secret  of  their  accomplishment  and  indicate  their  incalcul- 
able worth  when,  under  difficulties  of  a  distressing  nature, 
they  are  guided  by  the  thought  "All  for  glory  and  honor 
of  God." 

In  1873  an  epidemic  of  small-pox  broke  out  in  the  city. 
The  heroines  of  the  mission  of  St.  Boniface  were  to  taste  of 
the  sorrows  that  saddens  the  home  in  sickness.  Sister  M. 
Fidelis  was  stricken.  The  epidemic  raged  so  furiously  that 
the  schools  were  closed  for  several  weks.  St.  Boniface  School 
was  likewise  subject  to  this  order  being  in  the  area  of  the 
epidemic.  Sister  M.  Fidelis  was  in  the  home  and  Sister 
Anthony  acted  as  her  nurse.  The  remainder  of  the  nuns 
had  to  move  away  from  contagion  and  took  refuge  in  the 
school.  It  is  difficult  to  draw  a  comparison  between  the 
house  and  this  place  of  refuge.  There  was  only  one  room 
which  combined  the  suite  of  kitchen,  dining  and  bedroom. 
In  this  suite  of  one  room  combination  was  one  of  these  old 
fashioned  large  chimney  effect  stoves  which  answered  ad- 
mirably the  purpose  of  dispelling  heat,  but  was  never  meant 
as  a  cooking  stove.  To  cook  their  meals,  the  sisters  had  to 
stand  either  on  the  rung  of  a  chair,  or  if  their  stature  handi- 
capped them  by  the  use  of  this  method,  they  were  wont  to 
stand  on  the  chair  and  proceed  to  cook  on  the  flat  surface  of 
the  stove  which  measured  approximately  six  feet  from  the 


ST.  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  133 

floor.  This  condition  of  affairs  lasted  for  seven  weeks.  At 
first  the  novelty  of  the  whole  affair  must  have  blinded  the 
nuns  to  this  inconvenience,  but  we  have  every  reason  to  be' 
lieve  that  they  felt  greatly  relieved  after  the  seven  weeks  of 
this  hardship  and  quarantine  were  over.  Doctor  Wild,  a 
physician  of  the  neighborhood  attended  the  nuns  during  the 
epidemic.    All  the  nuns  submitted  to  vaccination. 

There  was  a  period  of  apparent  cessation  of  any  startling 
event  or  happening  until  the  first  frame  school  building  was 
enlarged  and  remodeled  in  1874.  During  this  period  of  re' 
construction  the  pupils  of  the  four  classrooms  utilized  the 
church  for  their  place  of  study  and  learning.  The  work  was 
carried  on  speedily  so  that  within  a  few  weeks'  time  the 
remodeled  school  was  in  readiness  for  occupancy.  The  num' 
ber  of  pupils  was  in  excess  of  three  hundred,  and  the  fifth 
classroom  was  opened  in  the  Spring  of  1875.  Sister  M. 
Aquin  was  placed  in  charge. 

In  the  latter  part  of  August,  1876,  Sister  M.  Alberta  was 
elected  Mother  Superior  of  the  Order.  This  was  indeed 
pleasing  news,  since  Sister  M.  Alberta  was  one  of  the  first 
nuns  who  came  to  St.  Boniface  parish.  During  the  time  of 
her  stay  at  St.  Boniface  she  had  endeared  herself  to  all  and 
had  gained  for  herself  and  the  Order  a  large  host  of  friends. 
She  remained,  however,  in  that  position  of  honor  only  one 
year  and  was  succeeded  by  her  predecessor,  Sister  M.  Francis. 
This  latter  named  nun  was  also  one  of  the  first  to  reach  St. 
Boniface  School.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  she  was  the  first 
Superior  and  assisted  in  preparing  and  laying  of  the  founda' 
tion  which  has  since  throughout  the  years  of  existence  ac 
claimed  glory  for  St.  Boniface  School. 

In  1881,  the  school  had  hardly  opened  its  first  semester  of 
studies  when  Sister  M.  Ignatius  became  ill,  necessitating  the 


Venerable  Mother  Alberta 


134 


ST.  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  135 

arrival  of  Sister  M.  Liboria  as  substitute.  There  is  one  item 
on  the  records  of  the  school  which  demands  our  attention;  it 
was  the  alertness  and  speediness  with  which  difficulties  were 
dispelled.  This  certainly  bespeaks  credit  for  the  business  man' 
agement  of  the  Order.  On  October  27th,  1881,  only  a 
month  after  sickness  had  visited  the  sisters,  another,  Sister  M. 
Josepha  was  removed  to  the  Isolation  Hospital  (on  26th 
Street) ,  having  contracted  the  small-pox.  During  her  period 
of  isolation  Miss  Mary  Gurlick  substituted.  After  approxi- 
mately six  weeks,  December  10th  to  be  exact,  Sister  M. 
Josepha  returned  and  again  conducted  her  class. 

The  autumn  of  1885  saw  the  erection  of  the  new  parochial 
residence,  a  three-story  brick  building  facing  Cornell  Street. 
Towards  the  close  of  the  year  the  sisters  moved  into  the  old 
parsonage  which,  by  the  way,  had  been  raised  in  1878  to 
accomodate  a  brick  basement.  The  old  sisters1  house  was 
now  being  utilised  as  a  classroom  and  Sister  M.  Stella,  newly 
appointed,  led  her  little  flock  of  second  grade  boys  and  girls 
to  more  than  worldly  wisdom. 

We  dare  not  in  this  historical  resume  pass  up  the  date  of 
appointment  of  Sister  M.  Valeria.  It  was  the  year  of  1891. 
Her  name  appears  on  the  teachers1  list  at  St.  Boniface  to  the 
close  of  the  school  year  1908.  Sister  M.  Valeria  was  seven- 
teen years  with  the  big  boys  of  St.  Boniface  School.  And 
these  big  boys  were  fortunate  in  having  a  teacher  who 
commanded  their  respect  and  admiration  not  only  during 
their  school  days  but  even  now  are  generous  in  their  words 
of  praise  for  all  that  Sister  M.  Valeria  did  for  them. 

Sister  M.  Valeria  upon  being  interviewed  recently  unhesi- 
tatingly made  a  clean  breast  of  it  all  when  she  said,  "I  was 
always  proud  of  my  boys.  They  were  always  obedient  and 
prompt  in  their  fulfillment  of  their  duties.     Not  only  that, 


Sister  M.  Valeria 


136 


ST-  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  137 

they  went  more  than  half  way  in  their  efforts  of  satisfying  me 
in  any  proposal  I  may  have  made.  If  I  suggested  the  scrub- 
bing of  the  room,  the  boys  were  there.  They  would  don 
the  aprons,  carry  the  water,  scrub  and  furnish  me  with  the 
finished  product.  They  were  really  good/1  On  the  other 
hand,  the  service  tendered  their  sister  in  school  did  not  make 
them  shy  or  effeminate  as  we  would  ordinarily  conjecture. 
These  men  today  are  real  he-men,  battling  with  the  world 
and  for  the  most  part  winning.  They  were  taught  to  work; 
their  activity  then  caused  them  to  be  loved  by  their  teacher; 
just  as  now  they  are  loved  for  the  same  qualities  displayed 
then,  by  their  wives,  their  children  and  their  neighbors. 
Sister  M.  Valeria  deserves  this  special  mention  since  she  has 
done  so  much  good  for  the  children  she  taught.  She  has  in 
her  forty-two  years  of  service  had  seventeen  of  her  boy 
pupils  become  priests  and  ten  girls  enter  the  convent.  This 
achievement  is  surely  a  source  of  great  satisfaction  to  her  and 
her  cloistered  sisters. 

An  incident  worth  mention  occurred  on  October  4th, 
1894.  Sister  M.  Leocadia  on  this  beautiful  fall  day  obtained 
permission  from  her  superior  to  visit  her  sister,  Sister  M. 
Gonzaga,  who  was  stationed  at  St.  Francis  School,  located  on 
Twelfth  and  Newberry  Streets.  Mother  Alberta,  her 
superior,  accompanied  her  on  this  recreative  journey.  After 
they  had  boarded  the  car  on  Halsted  Street  and  Chicago 
Avenue  and  had  gone  a  considerable  distance,  the  horses 
drawing  the  car  became  affrighted  for  some  unknown  reason 
and  became  uncontrollable.  (You  know  in  those  early  days 
horse  drawn  cars  were  in  existence.)  It  seemed  that  every- 
one became  alarmed  and  made  a  safe  exit  into  the  street.  The 
two  nuns,  however,  were  the  last  to  leave  the  car.  As  Sister 
M.  Leocadia  jumped,  she,  by  some  mishap,  was  obstructed 


138 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 


from  making  a  safe  landing  and  broke  her  collar  bone. 
Mother  Alberta,  a  little  more  fortunate  only  bruised  her  arm. 
Again,  we  note  the  quick  action  of  the  Franciscan  nuns,  Sis' 
ter  M.  Leocadia  was  substituted  by  Sister  M.  Adolpha  during 
her  detention  of  almost  a  month. 

The  year  of  18954896  was  crowded  with  incidents  of 
interest  and  enthusiasm.  During  this  year  a  large  school, 
the  present,  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $40,000.00.  This  under' 
taking  was  by  far  the  greatest  up  to  this  time  in  the  history 
of  the  parish.    Just  think,  forty  thousand  was  to  be  expended 


A  Class  of  1884 


upon  a  new  school  and  that,  in  the  year  1895.  The  figures 
staggered  the  parishioners,  but  they  understood  the  need  and 
they  all  gave  willing  assistance.  It  was  the  law  of  supply 
and  demand.  The  people  acquiesced!  But  what  did  the 
sisters  do  during  this  period  that  it  should  be  mentioned  in 
this  chapter.    You'll  be  surprised! 

Vacant  property  had  to  be  secured  for  the  building  of  the 
new  school.  To  this  end,  therefore,  the  old  school  and  the 
sisters'  house  had  to  succumb.    While  for  quite  some  time 


ST-  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  139 

after  they  had  been  levelled  to  the  ground,  the  sisters  had  to 
find  shelter  in  a  six  flat  building  a  little  north  of  the  alley  on 
Noble  Street.  The  property  was  owned  by  Genessers.  The 
sisters  occupied  the  entire  first  floor  of  this  three  floor  six-flat 
building.  Occupying  the  first  floor  meant  in  reality  the  two 
flats  on  the  first  floor.  The  reason  we  make  clear  this  point 
is  to  emphasise  the  apparent  inconvenience  that  again  had 
come  to  the  lot  of  the  nuns  in  the  division  of  their  home  by 
a  public  stairway,  necessary,  of  course,  to  provide  access  into 
the  flats  above.  But  even  the  entire  floor  did  not  suffice 
to  house  the  large  teaching  staff  of  this  year.  Consequently, 
sleeping  quarters  for  four  or  five  of  the  nuns  had  to  be  se- 
cured elsewhere.  A  unique  selection  was  made.  The  flat 
above  Schuenemann's  saloon  had  been  made  vacant  to  ac- 
commodate the  nuns.  After  night  prayers  these  five  nuns 
would  depart  from  their  Genesser  flat,  cross  the  street,  and 
make  strenuous  effort  to  find  sleep  above  the  saloon  apart- 
ment. Needless  to  recall  to  your  mind  that  prohibition  was 
not  then  in  force.  There  was  always  a  gathering  of  men  at 
SchuenemamVs.  Some  of  them  were  content  with  playing 
a  game  of  cards  and  having  a  stein  close  at  hand  to  console 
them  in  any  poor  play  they  may  have  made;  others  of  course, 
with  one  foot  on  the  brass  rail  drank  away  the  time.  Natur- 
ally, the  latter  caused  disturbances  when  time  had  got  the 
best  of  them.  In  an  effort  to  quiet  their  confriars  the  card 
sharks  would  join  the  brawl.  In  a  few  moments  after  this 
headway  had  been  made  the  group  of  five  nuns  awakened 
from  their  much  needed  rest  and  having  to  take  resource  in 
some  action  that  would  quiet  the  clientele  below,  usually 
knocked  on  the  water  pipe  with  a  hammer.  This  action  of 
the  guardians  of  peace  generally  brought  about  the  desired 
effect  immediately.    It  was  only  necessary  once  in  an  evening 


140  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 

and  sleep  was  assured.  Unfortunately,  however,  that  "once" 
came  occasionally  after  sandman  had  made  his  visit. 

The  nuns  unmistakably  suffered  during  the  building  opera' 
tions.  It  was  not  alone  that  they  had  no  home,  but  they  had 
no  school  either.  For  they  had  to  teach  the  children  in 
church.  The  pews  were  used  as  desks  and  the  kneelers  as 
seats  for  the  children.  Mischievous  as  children  are,  one  can 
easily  imagine  the  difficulties  of  maintaining  order  in  a  full 
to  capacity  room  and  the  faces  of  the  children  hidden  from 
view.  The  belfry  was  also  utilized  as  a  classroom.  With 
the  ropes  of  the  bells  hanging  down  in  the  midst  of  the  room 
the  temptation  was  indeed  great  to  give  them  just  one  little 
"pull/1  These  were  indeed  trying  times,  enough,  without 
question,  to  try  the  patience  of  a  saint.  But  the  heroines  did 
not  falter  nor  did  they  complain,  for  it  was  all  for  the  greater 
glory  and  honor  of  God.  Again,  and  probably  more  than  at 
any  other  time,  their  motto  sustained  their  courage  and  for- 
titude. 

After  the  present  rectory  was  completed,  which  was  built 
at  the  time  of  the  new  school,  the  sisters  were  presented  with 
their  present  abode,  the  old  priesthouse  facing  Cornell  Street. 
In  February,  1903,  the  sisters  moved  into  the  old  parochial 
residence  which  had  been  built  in  1885.  This  building  was 
too  small  to  house  all  the  nuns,  and  so  the  annex,  the  second 
floor  of  the  house  next  door,  came  into  use.  This  house  is 
referred  to  as  SuertrTs  house. 

In  1899  Sister  M.  Julia  was  appointed  to  assist  Sister 
Amalia  with  the  little  ones.  That  year  there  was  paradox- 
ically  as  it  may  seem  a  large  following  of  little  ones.  The 
class  of  approximately  one  hundred  and  fifty-five,  was  di- 
vided. Sister  Amalia  retained  ninety-five  of  these  youngsters 
and  the  rest  were  in  charge  of  Sister  M.  Julia.    This  latter 


ST.  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  141 

class  was  called  the  preparatory  class.  It  was  difficult  to  find 
suitable  quarters  for  the  preparatory  class.  They  had  first 
moved  with  their  tables,  chairs  and  all  other  necessary  equip- 
ment to  the  large  hall.  Just  as  they  had  found  comfort  in 
their  settlement  they  were  obliged  to  suffer  a  great  come- 
down. From  the  third  floor  to  the  basement  of  the  church 
was  a  great  drop.  But  orders  were  orders,  they  made  it.  No 
more  than  they  had  found  conveniences  and  advantages  in 
their  new  home,  they  were  again  graciously  evicted.  This 
time  they  moved  to  SuertrTs  building.  Then  followed  a 
series  of  moves  reminding  one  of  a  King  in  a  checker  game 
making  every  effort  to  retain  his  power.  From  SuertrTs 
house  the  move  was  to  the  bowling  alley,  from  the  bowling 
alley  to  the  school  basement,  and  finally  from  the  school 
basement  to  the  permanent  location  in  the  annex,  formerly 
SuertrTs  barber  shop. 

It  is  important  to  recall  to  mind  the  school  exhibits  which 
were  indeed  very  creditable  to  the  institution.  These  ex- 
hibits  showed  the  masterpieces  in  every  field  of  learning.  A 
line  was  drawn  about  the  room  and  thereon  was  attached 
copies  of  the  best  arithmetic  solutions,  samples  of  neatest  pen- 
manship, documents  of  exact  reproduction  in  the  art  of  paint- 
ing, records  marked  one  hundred  per  cent  for  their  historical 
veracity,  original  neatly  constructed  needlework.  Those  who 
excelled  in  any  branch  whatsoever  found  their  work  on  ex- 
hibition. Mothers  and  fathers,  sisters  and  brothers,  the 
whole  family  assembled  in  the  hall  to  view  these  exhibitions. 
Sunday  afternoon  was  usually  spent  in  examining  and  inspect- 
ing the  children's  work. 

While  preparing  for  an  exhibit  June  5th,  1901,  a  terrible 
storm  arose,  in  which  the  lightning  struck  the  sisters'  home. 
Sister  M.  Aegidia  was  about  to  close  the  window  in  which 


142 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 


it  had  been  raining  when  suddenly  she  saw  a  great  ball  of 
fire  spin  around  the  wash  basin  at  her  side.  The  poor  sister 
was  shocked  by  such  a  dreadful  experience,  her  nerves  uiv 
strung,  she  became  almost  paralytic.  It  was  the  belief  of  the 
physician  in  attendance  that  she  must  have  been  touched  by 
a  spark  of  the  lightning.  Her  condition  incapacitated  her 
and  she  was  relieved  of  all  duties. 

The  "Angel  of  Death"  visited  St.  Francis  Convent,  Joliet, 
Illinois,  on  February  21st,  1908,  and  bore  away  the  saintly 


A  Class  of  1914 


soul  of  Venerable  Mother  Alberta.  During  the  past  few 
months  she  had  remained  at  the  convent.  Since  her  resigna- 
tion of  St.  Boniface  she  failed  quite  rapidly. 

The  old  saying  "to  know  her  was  to  love  her"  became 
more  than  a  stock  phrase  when  applied  to  this  noble  nun.  A 
stroke  of  sickness  a  year  previous  to  her  death  sapped  her 
physical  vitality,  but  it  could  not  affect  the  sunshine  in  her 
soul.     She  was  forced  to  retire  from  the  active  ranks  of  the 


ST-  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  143 

sisters,  but  her  patience  and  spirit  grew  in  proportion  as  her 
physical  strength  waned,  and  so  she  continued  a  limited  re' 
ligious  practice  to  the  very  end. 

The  history  of  her  ministrations  could  best  be  told  by  the 
parishioners  of  St.  Boniface  parish  where  she  was  stationed 
twenty'six  years.  There  was  none  too  less  talented  to  com' 
mand  the  full  need  of  Sister  M.  Alberta's  sympathy  and 
Christian  benediction  marked  her  entire  course  of  religious 
practice.  Those  who  were  children  in  Mothor  Alberta's  day 
in  the  St.  Boniface  parish  will  ever  mention  her  name  in  rev 
erence  and  recall  her  solicitude  in  their  behalf  with  a  prayer 
upon  their  lips.  Human  suffering,  patiently  borne,  is  the 
crucible  which  purifies  the  soul,  and  thus  fortified  with  every 
grace,  Mother  M.  Alberta  quietly  laid  down  the  cross  which 
she  carried  so  meekly  during  the  past  years.    R.I.P. 

In  the  year  1915  the  Academy  at  Joliet  was  opened.  It 
seemed  that  fortune  had  shifted  the  scene  of  her  activities 
from  St.  Boniface  School  to  the  Academy  in  Joliet.  The 
school  had  dwindled  down  to  number  only  a  trifle  more  than 
one  hundred  and  fifty  students.  The  kindergarten  chairs  and 
tables,  since  they  were  the  property  of  the  community,  were 
removed  from  St.  Boniface  to  St.  Francis  Academy,  Joliet, 
Illinois. 

The  Spring  of  1916  ushered  in  a  critical  period  into  the 
history  of  St.  Boniface  parish.  Everyone  was  at  a  loss  what 
was  to  happen.  Would  the  school  be  turned  over  to  another 
community  in  the  event  that  the  Polish  people  who  dom- 
inated the  neighborhood  succeeded  to  make  the  purchase  of 
the  church?  It  became  known  that  Father  Evers  was  soon  to 
resign.  Nervously  and  anxiously  the  future  of  St.  Boniface 
was  discussed.  The  children  were  prepared  to  give  at  their 
graduating  exercise  the  beautiful  play,  "Dolores,"  which  had 


144  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 

been  rehearsed  for  a  number  of  weeks.  All  plans  of  rendi' 
tion  of  this  play,  "Dolores,"  as  well  as  all  other  features  of 
the  graduating  exercises  was  overthrown  when  announce' 
ment  was  made  that  the  exercises  of  graduation  would  be 
conducted  in  the  church  May  30th.  This  announcement 
added  to  the  perplexity  and  anxiety  that  had  already  existed. 
It  was  a  shock  the  parish  sustained,  when  for  the  first  time 
in  its  history  there  was  no  solemnity  or  exhibition  of  talent  at 
graduation.  Providence,  however,  interfered  with  the  repeti- 
tion of  this  arrangement  by  changing  the  conditions  which 
brought  it  about. 

On  July  8th,  1916,  Reverend  C.  A.  Rempe  arrived  as  the 
duly  appointed  pastor  of  St.  Boniface  Church.  His  pastorate 
rigorously  revolved  upon  the  school  question.  Thousands 
of  children  in  the  neighborhood,  almost  all  Catholic,  and  the 
school  attendance  at  St.  Boniface  dwindled  to  almost  naught. 
He  made  continuously  strong  pleas  for  the  moral  and  re' 
ligious  training  of  youth.  Shall  we  not  direct  the  will  and 
train  the  heart  as  we  enlighten  the  intellect?  Naught  but 
religious  feeling,  the  inspiration  of  the  soul,  and  faith  in  God 
can  accomplish  this.  Even  ethical  teaching,  though  helpful, 
will  not  suffice.  Moral  philosophy  may  be  similar  to  other 
knowledge,  the  product  of  man's  mind  but  not  a  force  which 
controls  his  acts.  There  are  abundant  examples  of  the  failure 
of  ethical  teaching  to  affect  life.  France  has  given  non' 
religious  moral  training  a  more  thorough  trial  perhaps  than 
any  other  nation.  And  yet,  in  fifty  years  criminality  has 
increased  threefold,  though  there  was  scarcely  any  increase 
in  population.  Such  were  the  convictions  of  the  teacher 
and  scholar,  Father  C.  A.  Rempe,  as  he  gathered  his  physical 
forces  together  in  a  supreme  effort  of  gathering  the  "little 
ones"  to  himself.     What  could  be  the  outcome  of  such  a 


ST-  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  145 

vigorous  campaign?  Success!  But  not  only  in  the  accom- 
plishing of  the  end  but,  of  endearing  himself  to  the  hearts 
of  all  the  children.  He  was,  and  is  today,  their  recognized 
benefactor. 

The  third  of  September,  1917,  marked  the  golden  anni- 
versary  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Francis  at  St.  Boniface  School. 
They  had  in  their  fifty  years  of  service  done  much  good,  as 
these  pages  of  history  amply  suffice  to  portray.  The  day 
must,  therefore,  be  worthily  commemorated.  A  solemn  high 
mass  was  sung.  Rt.  Rev.  Msgr.  F.  A.  Rempe,  celebrant; 
Rev.  A.  Reisel,  deacon;  Rev.  A.  Korthals,  sub-deacon;  Rev. 
P.  A.  Crumbly,  O.  F.  M.,  gave  the  sermon.  Among  the 
clergy  who  attended  the  festivities  were  the  Rev.  C.  A. 
Rempe,  Rev.  F.  X.  Harnishmacher,  Rev.  George  Wunder, 
Rev.  Oscar  Strehl. 

The  children's  choir,  composed  of  members  of  the  sixth, 
seventh  and  eighth  grades  rendered  in  most  pleasing  manner 
St.  Rita's  mass.  It  was  really  refreshing  to  listen  to  the  lovely 
music  rendered  by  the  concerted  voices  of  the  children. 

The  following  sisters  from  Joliet  and  the  neighboring  mis- 
sions had  the  pleasure  of  attending  the  Jubilee: 

Venerable  Mother  M.  Vincent      Sister  M.  Felicia 
Venerable  Mother  M.  Angela      Sister  M.  Alodia 
Venerable  Sister  M.  Stanislas        Sister  M.  Alfrieda 
Sister  M.  Eleanor  Sister  M.  Francisca 

Sister  M.  Cecilia  Sister  M.  Beata 

Sister  M.  Stella  Sister  M.  Geraldine 

Sister  M.  Camilla  Sister  M.  Roche 

Sister  M.  Anne  Sister  M.  Corona 

Sister  M.  Eugene  Sister  M.  Domitilla 

Sister  M.  Martina  Sister  M.  Boniface 

Sister  M.  Blanche  Sister  M.  Veronica 


146 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Sister  M. 

Rosalia 

Sister  M. 

Dorothea 

Sister  M. 

Gertrude 

Sister  M. 

Ida 

Sister  M. 

Ottilia 

Sister  M. 

Marcella 

Sister  M. 

Laura 

Sister  M. 

Josephine 

Sister  M. 

Leontine 

Sister  M. 

Angelica 

Sister  M. 

Ethelreda 

Sister  M. 

Clemens 

Sister  M. 

Humiliana 

Sister  M. 

Edmunda 

Sister  M. 

Hermina 

Sister  M. 

Angella 

Sister  M. 

Georgina 

Sister  M. 

Justina 

Sister  M. 

Edwina 

Sister  M. 

Leonissa 

Sister  M. 

Paulina 

Sister  M. 

Theophila 

Sister  M. 

Nemesia 

Sister  M. 

Mathilda 

Sister  M. 

Michelina 

Sister  M. 

Emma 

Sister  M. 

Eulalia 

Sister  M. 

Blandina 

Sister  M. 

Winfrieda 

Sister  M. 

Sylvester 

Sister  M. 

Rayneria 

Sister  M. 

Gervasia 

Luncheon  was  served  to  the  sisters  in  the  school  hall,  after 
which  there  was  a  social  gathering  of  relations  and  friends 
and  former  pupils  of  the  sisters.    Everyone  enjoyed  the  day. 

The  school  made  wonderful  strides  within  the  two  years 
of  the  pastorate  of  Reverend  C.  A.  Rempe.  Towards  the 
close  of  1918  preparations  were  being  made  for  the  opening 
of  a  commercial  class.  That  year  records  twentyeight  gradu' 
ates.  Out  of  this  number  eighteen  registered  for  the  com- 
mercial class.    They  are: 


Lawrence  Honikel 
Bruno  Lukosewicz 
Harry  Wesemann 
George  Wieronski 
Roman  Niezgodcki 
Robert  Hesser 


Rudolph  Patush 
Fred  Klein 
Clarence  Stroh 
Joseph  Behrendt 
Isabelle  Klanske 
Stephania  Kosjak 


ST-  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  147 

Cecilia  Koob  Teresa  Dopke 

Margaret  Madden  Agnes  Wesemann 

Ida  Graffket 

The  children  registered  for  the  first  semester  of  1918  on 
September  3rd.  But  classes  had  not  been  resumed  for  more 
than  two  weeks  when  the  influenza  epidemic  worked  havoc 
with  the  school  attendance.  The  fifth  grade  was  especially 
poor  in  attendance.  It  semed  as  though  the  influenza  germ 
had  complete  control  of  the  situation  in  room  five,  for  the 
teacher,  Sister  M.  Engelberta  was  not  spared.  She  was  taken 
sick  in  the  last  week  of  October  and  became  very  ill,  neces- 
sitating her  removal  to  the  St.  Elizabeth's  Hospital.  The  Sis' 
ters  of  St.  Francis,  noted  for  their  speedy  method  of  substitu- 
tion, immediately  upon  the  illness  of  Sister  M.  Engelberta, 
appointed  Sister  M.  Liberata  to  fill  the  vacancy.  The  substi' 
tute,  however,  robust  and  healthful  as  she  was,  was  taken 
ill  with  pneumonia,  and  within  a  month  after  she  had  come 
to  St.  Boniface.  Her  disease  proved  fatal.  She  died  at  St. 
Elizabeth's  Hospital  December  9th,  1918.  Her  body  was 
taken  to  Freeport,  Illinois,  for  burial.  We  may  say  of  Sister 
M.  Liberata  the  most  that  any  one  could  wish  to  have  said: 
"She  died  in  service."    R.I. P. 

For  three  consecutive  years  death  hovered  over  the  door  of 
the  Franciscan  nuns  at  St.  Boniface.  Sister  M.  Cornelia 
being  poor  of  health,  collapsed.  She  had  been  occupied  with 
the  children's  bazaar  which  placed  a  goodly  amount  in  the 
exchequer  of  St.  Boniface  parish.  The  exact  sum  was  a  net 
$2,100.  On  December  19th,  1919,  she  was  taken  to  bed. 
She  never  regained  sufficient  strength  to  be  up  and  about. 
After  being  confined  to  her  bed  for  approximately  three 
months,  she  was  removed  in  February  to  the  motherhouse 
at  Joliet.     On  June  2nd,  1920,  she  was  called  to  face  her 


148  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 

Master,  whom  she  had  served  so  faithfully  in  her  religious  vc 
cation.  Burial  took  place  on  the  afternoon  of  Corpus  Christi 
at  Joliet,  Illinois.  The  pastor,  Reverend  C.  A.  Rempe  and 
his  curate,  Reverend  F.  X.  Harnischmacher,  together  with 
three  of  the  nuns  stationed  at  St.  Boniface,  Sisters  M.  Blan' 
dina,  Alma  and  Marcellina,  attended  the  funeral. 

December  21st,  1920,  four  days  before  commemoration 
of  the  birth  of  Christ,  another  of  His  servants,  and  this  time, 
a  child  from  St.  Boniface  School,  died.  Sister  M.  Francisca, 
and  in  the  world  known  as  Elisabeth  Reisel,  had  been  ill  for 
quite  some  time.  Her  condition  necessitated  an  operation. 
She  improved  after  the  first  operation  with,  however,  some 
unforeseen  condition  arising  making  another  operation  indis' 
pensable.  Her  strength  was  not  sufficient  to  bear  up  under 
this  strain  and  she  died  on  the  above  mentioned  date.  Her 
remains  where  brought  to  St.  Boniface  Church  where  she 
lay  in  state  until  Thursday,  the  23rd  of  December.  The 
funeral  cortege  left  St.  Boniface  at  nine  o'clock  that  morning 
and  wended  its  way  to  St.  Benedict's  Church  to  which  her 
parents  had  now  been  affiliated.  There  Solemn  Mass  was 
celebrated.  The  burial  took  place  at  St.  Boniface  Cemetery, 
in  the  family  lot. 

The  school  attendance  since  1916  steadily  increased  in 
number  so  that  every  year  another  room  had  to  be  opened.  It 
was  apparent  that  the  water  mark  of  retrogression  had  been 
reached  and  that  progression  was  now  in  order.  The  man' 
agement  of  the  school  for  five  years  had  come  to  the  able 
ministrations  of  Sister  M.  Marcellina.  She  was  instrumental 
in  the  establishing  of  the  commercial  class  in  the  year  1918, 
and  fully  and  totally  responsible  for  the  progress  it  had  made 
until  1925.  The  enrollment  of  primary  grade  students  was 
so  large  that  the  commercial  class  had  to  be  discontinued  so 


ST.  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  149 

as  to  make  necessary  provision  for  the  parochial  grade  stu- 
dents.  It  was  not  easy  to  decide  on  this  course  of  action, 
especially  since  quite  a  large  class  had  already  avowed  their 
intention  to  take  up  commercial  studies.  There  is  no  ques- 
tion  but  what  this  higher  course  of  education  made  St.  Boni- 
face School  very  attractive  and  brought  about,  to  a  large 
extent,  the  healthful  growth  which  it  now  possesses.  Sister 
M.  Marcellina  is  to  be  duly  congratulated  for  the  unstinted 
efforts  she  made  in  behalf  of  progress  of  St.  Boniface  School. 
Her  disposition,  of  course,  made  considerably  lighter  this 
work  of  upbuilding. 

On  June  2nd,  1925,  Mrs.  A.  Young,  who  had  been  occu- 
pying the  sisters1  annex  for  years  during  the  low  ebb  exis- 
tence of  St.  Boniface  parish,  now  vacated  in  favor  of  the 
nuns  whose  numbers  had  increased  to  such  a  considerable 
extent  as  to  make  living  in  their  own  quarters  inconvenient. 
During  the  vacation  of  that  year,  the  whole  flat  was  reno- 
vated. The  sisters  also  rendered  a  valuable  and  strenuous 
service  when  they  with  rolled  sleeves  proceeded  to  imper- 
sonate the  Dutch  Cleansers  and  chased  the  dirt  away.  In  a 
few  weeks'  time,  however,  no  vestige  of  the  unclean  re- 
mained and  the  sisters  triumphantly  entered  the  annex.  The 
sisters'  home  now  is  very  comfortable  and  spacious.  Living 
in  the  annex  brings  back  memories  of  another  day  and  an  air 
ol  conquest  today.  No  one  could  better  repeat  the  immortal 
words,  "We  came,  we  saw,  we  conquered,"  than  the  nuns 
who  lived  through  the  dark  days  with  a  "faith  to  move 
mountains"  and  fearless  initiative  that  could  alone  bring 
about  such  a  grand  finale  of  successful  accomplishment  that 
exists  today. 

The  commercial  class  having  been  discontinued,  Sister  M. 
Marcellina  was  transferred  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  her 


150  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 

valued  service  was  needed  to  establish  a  new  mission.  Sister 
M.  Julia  now  became  her  very  able  successor.  She  had  been 
stationed  at  St.  Boniface  in  1899  and  demonstrated  her  will' 
ingness  and  patience,  when  in  that  year  she  moved  five  or  six 
times  with  her  class.  Governed  by  the  ideal  her  vows 
prompted  then,  her  one  year  as  superior  now  points  to  no 
departing  in  any  particular.  She  is  loved  for  her  fairness  and 
sound  judgment,  attributes  which  are  consequent  of  her  deep 
religious  life. 

St.  Boniface  School,  Cornell  and  Noble  Streets,  Chicago, 
was  accepted  by  Venerable  ^Mother  Alfred  Moes,  Septem- 
ber 3rd,  1867,  at  the  request  of  Rev.  James  Marshall. 

Teaching  Staff  to  1868—180  Pupils 

+  Sister  M.  Francis  Shanahan,  Superior     Miss  Schumacher,  for  Housework 
+  Sister  M.  Angela  Rosenberger  Mr.  Nicholas  Alles 

+  Miss  Catharine  Tehle.  Postulant 

Teaching  Staff,  18684869—195  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Alberta  StockhofT,  Superior     Miss  Magdalen  Weber.  Postulant 
+  Sister  M.  Siena  Wohlleben  Mr.  Nicholas  Alles 

Teaching  Staff,  18694870—201  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Superior      Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp 
Sister  M.  Boniface  Bachmann  Later  in  the  Year 

+  Miss  Magdalen  Weber,  Postulant         4"  Miss  Mary  Flanagan, 
+  Miss  Nellie  Rooney,  Postulant.  Assisted  in  Teaching 

Postulant.  Assisted  m  Teaching     Mr.  Nicholas  Alles 

Teaching  Staff,  18704871—264  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Alberta  StockhofT,  Superior  Sister  M.  Eleonora  Feager 

Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp.  Sister  M.  Florentine  Zehner 

Domestic  Work  Miss  Barabara  Wagner,  Postulant 

Sister  M.  Ferdinand  Simon  Mr.  Nicholas  Alles 


ST-  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  151 

Teaching  Staff,  1871-1872—278  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Superior      Sister  M.  Fidelis  Espelage 
Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp,  Sister  M.  Florentine  Zehner 

Domestic  Work  +  Sister  M.  Ursula  Wagner 

Sister  M.  Eleonora  Feager 

Teaching  Staff,  18724873—290  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Superior  Sister  M.  Alexandra  Munch, 
Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp  In  February,  1873 

Sister  M.  Eleonora  Feager  Miss  Anna  Woermann, 
Sister  M.  Fidelis  Espelage,  Postulant,  March   19th,   1873 

To  March  18th  Mr.   Haak,  Till  November 

Teaching  Staff,  18734874—301  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Superior  Sister  M.  Cleopha  Fechtrup,  in  April 

Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp  Sister  M.  Gregory  Miller,  to  April 

Sister  M.  Alexandra  Munch  Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 
Sister  M.  Eleonora  Feager 

Teaching  Staff,  18744875—314  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Superior  Sister  M.  Eleonora  Feager 

Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp  Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 

Sister  M.  Alexandra  Munch  Sister  M.  Aquina  Gloeckner,  April 
+  Sister  M.  Cleopha  Fechtrup 

Teaching  Staff,  18754876—323  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Superior      Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 
Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp  Sister  M.  Euphemia  Wagner 

Sister  M.  Eleonora  Feager 

Teaching  Staff,  18754876—332  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Superior     Sister  M.  Eleonora  Feager 
Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp  Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 

•i*  Sister  M.  Euphemia  Wagner 

Teaching  Staff,  18764877—338  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Eleonora  Feager,  Superior  Sister  M.  Josepha  Redlinger, 

Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp  April,  1877 

Sister  M.  Rose  Simon  Sister  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff  was  ap- 

Sister  M.  Caroline  Jungels  pointed    Mother    Superior    for 

Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller  one     year     by     the     Rt.     Rev. 

Sister  M.  Bernarda  Metz,  Jan.,  1877  Thomas  Foley,   Bishop   of  Chi' 

Sister  M.  Euphemia  Wagner  cago. 


152  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 

Teaching  Staff,  18774878—351  Pupils 

Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Sister  M.  Eusebia  Hiermeier 

Superior  (Last  6  or  7  months) 

Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp  Sister  M.  Josepha  Redlinger 

Sister  M.  Eleonora  Feager  4*  Sister  M.  Gentilis  Biehl 

Sister  M.  Rose  Simon  Sister  M.  Faustina  Gensbichler 
Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 

Teaching  Staff,  18784879—359  Pupils 

Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  +  Sister  M.  Eleonora  Feager 

Superior  Sister  M.  Anna  Miller 

Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp  Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 

+  Sister  M.  Eusebia  Hiermeier  Sister  M.  Josepha  Redlinger 

Teaching  Staff,  18794880—364  Pupils 

Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Sister  M.  Ambrose  Osthoff 

Superior  Sister  M.  Anna  Miller 

Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp  Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 

Sister  M.  Liguori  Adler  Sister  M.  Josepha  Redlinger 

Teaching  Staff,  18804881—370  Pupils 

Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff.  Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 

Superior  4*  Sister  M.  Julia  Meyers 

Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp  *fr  Sister  M.  Bernarda  Metz 

Sister  M.  Stanislas  Droesler  Sister  M.  Josepha  Redlinger 
Sister  M.  Liguori  Adler 

Teaching  Staff,  18814882—376  Pupils 

Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Sister  M.  Josepha  Redlinger 

Superior  Sister  M.  Liboria  Vollmer 

Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp  Sister  M.  Ignatia  Jagoditch 

Sister  M.   Stanislas  Droesler  (A  Few  Months) 

Sister  M.  Liguori  Adler  Miss  Mary  Garlick,  Postulant 
Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 

Teaching  Staff,  18824883—381  Pupils 

Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 

Superior  Sister  M.  Josepha  Redlinger 
Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp.  Housework      Sister  M.  Euphemia  Ertmer 

Sister  M.  Liguori  Adler  Sister  M.  Genevieve  Morris, 

Sister  M.  Liboria  Vollmer  Assist  in  Housework 
Sister  M.  Anna  Miller 


ST.  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  153 

Teaching  Staff,  18834884—398  Pupils 

Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Sister  M.  Anselma  Baumgart 

Superior  Sister  M.  Gerarda  Loeffler, 

Sister  M.  Liboria  Vollmer  Domestic  Work 

Sister  M.  Josepha  Redlinger  +  Sister  M.  Justina  Grignoe, 

Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller  Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Euphemia  Ertmer 

Teaching  Staff,  18844885—406  Pupils 

Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Sister  M.  Assumption  Klipfel 

Superior  Sister  M.  Borgia  Emmerich 

Sister  M.  Liboria  Vollmer  Sister  M.  Euphemia  Ertmer 
Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller     Sister  M.  Gerarda  Loeffler 

Sister  M.  Josepha  Redlinger  Sister  M.  Anselma  Baumgart 

Teaching  Staff,  18854886—417  Pupils 

Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  +  Sister  M.  Assumption  Klipfel 

Superior  Sister  M.  Borgia  Emmerich 

Sister  M.  Liboria  Vollmer  Sister  M.  Euphemia  Ertmer 
Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller     Sister  M.  Gerarda  Loeffler 

Sister  M.  Josepha  Redlinger  +  Sister  M.  Anselma  Baumgart 

Teaching  Staff,  18864887—429  Pupils 

Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Sister  M.  Stella  Koester 

Superior  Sister  M.  Eusebia  Goldschmitt 

Sister  M.  Liboria  Vollmer  Sister  M.  Ludovica  Zechermacher 

+  Sister  M.  Josepha  Redlinger  Sister  M.  Gerarda  Loeffler, 

+  Sister  M.  Borgia  Emmerich  Domestic  Work 

Sister  M.  Martina  Dirnberger  Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp, 

4"  Sister  M.  Euphemia  Ertmer  Domestic  Work 

Teaching  Staff,  18874888—438  Pupils 

Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Sister  M.  Stella  Koester 

Superior  Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 

Sister  M.  Liboria  Vollmer  Sister  M.  Ludovica  Zechermacher 

Sister  M.  Ottilia  Schmitt  Sister  M.  Eusebia  Goldschmitt 

Sister  M.  Martina  Dirnberger  Sister  M.  Gerarda  Loeffler 

Sister  M.  Augustine  Werckmann  Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp 

Teaching  Staff,  18884889—447  Pupils 

Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 

Superior  Sister  M.  Stella  Koester 

Sister  M.  Liboria  Vollmer  Sister  M.  Eusebia  Goldschmitt 

Sister  M.  Ottilia  Schmitt  Sister  M.  Veronica  Haarth 

Sister  M.  Martina  Dirnberger  Sister  M.  Gerarda  Loeffler 

Sister  M.  Augustine  Werckmann  Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp 


154 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Teaching  Staff,  18894890—451  Pupils 


Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff, 
Superior 
+  Sister  M.  Liboria  Vollmer 
Sister  M.  Otillia  Schmitt 
Sister  M.  Leonarda  Hiebel 


Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 
Sister  M.  Domitilla  Hanfland 
Sister  M.  Gerarda  Loeffler 
+  Sister  M.  Antonia  Hupp 
Sister  M.  Stella  Koester 


Sister  M.  Augustine  Werckmann       +  Sister  M.  Dominic  McGowan 


Teaching  Staff,  18904891- 

Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff,  Sister  M. 

Superior  Sister  M. 

Sister  M.  Ottilia  Schmitt  +  Sister  M. 

Sister  M.  Liguori  Adler  Sister  M. 

Sister  M.  Leonarda  Hiebel  Sister  M. 

Sister  M.  Domitilla  Hanfland  Sister  M. 
Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 


-470  Pupils 

Anastasia  Werckmann 
Stella  Koester 
Emerentia  Schmitt 
Ferdinanda  Stalzer 
Amata  Hutsch 
Gerarda  Loeffler 


Teaching  Staff, 


Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff, 

Superior 
Sister  M.  Otillia  Schmitt 
Sister  M.  Liguori  Adler 
Sister  M.  Leonarda  Hiebel 
Sister  M.  Domitilla  Hanfland 
Sister  M.  Valeria  Reeb 
Sister  M.  Anastasia  Werckmann 


18914892—491  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Stella  Koester 
+  Sister  M.  Amata  Hutsch 

*  August  3rd,  1892 
Sister  M.  Gerarda  Loeffler, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Thecla  Joyce, 

Domestic  Work 


Teaching  Staff,  18924893—529  Pupils 


Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff, 

Superior 
Sister  M.  Ottilia  Schmitt 
Sister  M.  Valeria  Reeb 
Sister  M.  Domitilla  Hanfland 
Sister  M.  Liguori  Adler 


+  Sister  M.  Anastasia  Werckmann 
Sister  M.  Stella  Koester 
Sister  M.  Bonaventura  Kolljung 
Sister  M.  Gerarda  Loeffler 
Sister  M.  Thecla  Joyce 


Teaching  Staff,  18934894—557  Pupils 


Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff, 

Sister  M. 

Bonaventura  Kolljung 

Superior 

Sister  M. 

Damiana  Konopek 

Sister  M.  Ottilia  Schmitt 

Sister  M. 

Victoria  Steidle 

Sister  M.  Valeria  Reeb 

Sister  M. 

Leocadia  Dirnberger 

Sister  M.  Domitilla  Hanfland 

Sister  M. 

Gerarda  Loeffler 

Sister  M.  Liguori  Adler 

Sister  M. 

Thecla  Joyce 

Sister  M.  Stella  Koester 

ST.  BONIFACE  SCHOOL 


155 


Teaching  Staff,  1894-1895—604  Pupils 


Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff, 

Superior 
Sister  M.  Ottilia  Schmitt 
Sister  M.  Valeria  Reeb 
+  Sister  M.  Liguori  Adler 

Sister  M.  Domitilla  Hanfland 
Sister  M.  Jovita  Thompson 

Teaching  Staff, 

+  Mother  M.  Alberta  Stockhoff, 
Superior 
Sister  M.  Valeria  Reeb 


Sister  M.  Stella  Koester 
Sister  M.  Bonaventura  Kolljung 
Sister  M.  Damiana  Konopek 
+  Sister  M.  Leocadia  Dirnberger 
Sister  M.  Gerarda  Loeffler 
Sister  M.  Thecla  Joyce 


18954896—653  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Adolpha  Kirn 
Sister  M.  Georgina  Kraffzik 
Sister  M.  Hermina  Bucher 


Sister  M. 

Jovita  Thompson 

Sister  M.  Micheline  Langa 

Sister  M. 

Domitilla  Hanfland 

Sister  M.  Gerarda  Loeffler 

Sister  M. 

Bonaventura  Kolljung 

Sister  M.  Brigitta  Mystowska 

+  Sister  M. 

Ida  Heitzig 

Teaching  Staff, 

18964897—701  Pupils 

Sister  M. 

Valeria  Reeb,  Superior            Sister  M.  Euphemia  Miras 

Sister  M. 

Alcantara  Held 

Sister  M.  Crescentia  Gruber 

Sister  M. 

Theodora  Steichler 

+  Sister  M.  Gerarda  Loeffler 

Sister  M. 

Domitilla  Hanfland 

Sister  M.  Hildegardis  Kroll 

Sister  M. 

Laurentia  Rubinstein 

Sister  M.  Thecla  Joyce 

Sister  M. 

Hermina  Bucher 

Sister  M.  Hubertine  Roufs 

+  Sister  M. 

Mercedes  Haarth 

Sister  M.   Gerarda  Loeffler  died   on 

Sister  M. 

Amata  Lais 

this  mission  of  appendicitis  July 

Sister  M. 

Micheline  Langa 

6,    1897,  in   the  forty-first  year 

Sister  M. 

Georgina  Kraffzik 

of  her  age. 

Teaching  Staff, 

18974898—774  Pupils 

Sister  M. 

Valeria  Reeb,  Superior            Sister  M.  Crescentia  Gruber 

Sister  M. 

Alcantara  Held 

Sister  M.  Friederica  Deubig 

Sister  M. 

Theodora  Steichler 

Sister  M.  Germaine  Rummler 

Sister  M. 

Domitilla  Hanfland 

Sister  M.  Theophila  Pudlowski 

+  Sister  M. 

Lawrence   Rubinstein 

Sister  M.  Thecla  Joyce 

Sister  M. 

Hermina  Bucher 

Sister  M.  Boniface  Renner 

Sister  M.  Micheline  Langa 


Teaching  Staff,  18984899—918  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Gregory  Miller,  Superior        Sister  M.  Theophila  Pudlowski 
Sister  M.  Valeria  Reeb  Sister  M.  Paulina  Hermann 

Sister  M.  Theodora  Steichler  Sister  M.  Mechtildis  Butt 


156 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST-  BONIFACE  PARISH 


4"  Sister  M.  Cecilia  Hartmann  Sister  M. 

Sister  M.  Domitilla  Hanfland  Sitser  M. 

Sister  M.  Micheline  Langa  Sister  M. 

Sister  M.  Crescentia  Gruber  Sister  M. 

Sister  M.  Friederica  Deubig  Sister  M. 

Sister  M.  Germaine  Rummler  Sister  M. 


Florentine  Fischer 
Leonissa  Schaefer 
Angelina  Pilawska 
Ladislas  Foenkohl 
Boniface  Renner 
Helen  Rappal 


Teaching  Staff,  1899- 

Sister  M.  Gregory  Miller,  Superior 
Sister  M.  Valeria  Reeb 
Sister  M.  Gonzaga  Dirnberger 
Hh  Sister  M.  Josepha  Redlinger 
Sister  M.  Domitilla  Hanfland 
Sister  M.  Crescentia  Gruber 
Sister  M.  Ludovica  Zechermacher       4* 
Sister  M.  Paulina  Hermann 
Sister  M.  Henrietta  Lais 
Sister  M.  Adolpha  Kirn 

Teaching  Staff,  1900 

Sister  M.  Gregory  Miller,  Superior 

Sister  M.  Valeria  Reeb 

Sister  M.  Gonzaga  Dirnberger 
•i*  Sister  M.  Domitilla  Hanfland 

Sister  M.  Henrietta  Lais 

Sister  M.  Amalia  Winkler 

Sister  M.  Adolpha  Kirn 

Sister  M.  Paulina  Hermann 
»t  Sister  M.  Florentine  Fischer 

Sister  M.  Clarissa  Schlesiger 

Sister  M.  Julia  Lagger 

Teaching  Staff,  1901 

Sister  M.  Gregory  Miller,  Superior 

Sister  M.  Valeria  Reeb 

Sister  M.  Gonzaga  Dirnberger 

Sister  M.  Leonarda  Hiebel 

Sister  M.  Henrietta  Lais 

Sister  M.  Crescentia  Gruber 

Sister  M.  Pauline  Hermann 

Sister  M.  Adolpha  Kirn 

Sister  M.  Antonine  Herner  + 

Sister  M.  Leonissa  Schaefer 

Sister  M.  Clarissa  Schlesiger 


1900—859  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Florentine  Fischer 
Sister  M.  Leonissa  Schaefer 
Sister  M.  Clarissa  Schlesiger 
Sister  M.  Julia  Lagger 
Sister  M.  Christina  Knecht, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Ladislas  Foenkohl, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Mathilda  Koester, 

Domestic  Work 

•1901—977  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Leonissa  Schaefer 
Sister  M.  Agnella  Gier 
Sister  M.  Antonine  Herner 
Sister  M.  Regis  Bucher 
Sister  M.  Aegidia  Pulaski, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Euphemia  Kortte, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Bertranda  Schnell, 

Domestic  Work 


4902—961  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Julia  Lagger 
Sister  M.  Mercedes  Vollmer 
Sister  M.  Corona  Hagemann 
Sister  M.  Blandina  Neilitz 
Sister  M.  Louisa  Redlinger, 

Domesttc  Work 
Sister  M.  Euphemia  Kortte, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Celsa  Vrabel, 

Domestic  Work 


ST.  BONIFACE  SCHOOL 


157 


Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 


Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 


Teaching  Staff,  1902 

Gregory  Miller,  Superior 
Valeria  Reeb 
Gonzaga  Dirnberger 
Leonarda  Hiebel 
Kostka  Berchtold 
Antonine  Herner 
Pauline  Hermann 
Adolpha  Kirn 
Crescentia  Gruber 
Leonissa  Schaefer 


-1903—991  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Julia  Lagger 
Sister  M.  Corona  Hagemann 
Sister  M.  Clarissa  Schlesiger 
Sister  M.  Mercedes  Vollmer 
Sister  M.  Laura  Fox 
Sister  M.  Celsa  Vrabel, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Martha   Schoemer, 

Domestic  Work 


Teaching  Staff,  19034904—898  Pupils 


Gregory  Miller,  Superior 
Valeria  Reeb 
Gonzaga  Dirnberger 
Leonarda  Hiebel 
Antonine  Herner 
Pauline  Hermann 
Adolpha  Kirn 
Crescentia  Gruber 
Leonissa  Schaefer 
Julia  Lagger 
Corona  Hagemann 


Sister  M.  Clarissa  Schlesiger 
Sister  M.  Mercedes  Vollmer 
Sister  M.  Leontina  Mueller 
Sister  M.  Cassilda  Mundy 
Sister  M.  Celsa  Vrabel, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Eustacia  Deragon, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Susanna  Skrinar, 

Domestic  Work 


Teaching  Staff,  1904 

Sister  M.  Gregory  Miller,  Superior 

Sister  M.  Valeria  Reeb 

Sister  M.  Gonzaga  Dirnberger 

Sister  M.  Pauline  Hermann 

Sister  M.  Adolpha  Kirn 
•fr  Sister  M.  Crescentia  Gruber,  to  Nc 
vember  19,  1904,  when  she  was 
taken  to  Joliet  where  she  died 
July  11,  1905. 

Sister  M.  Leonissa  Schaefer 

Sister  M.  Corona  Hagemann 

Sister  M.  Clarissa  Schlesiger 


-1905—902  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Mercedes  Vollmer 

Sister  M.  Laura  Fox 

Sister  M.  Cassilda  Mundy 

Sister  M.  Rogeria  Timschock 

Sister  M.  Leontina  Mueller 

Sister  M.  Lucina  Gier 

Sister  M.  Justina  Marconiler  (Music) 

Sister  M.  Charlotte  Polcyn, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Susanna  Skrinar, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Nemesia  Zadow,  Sacristan 


Teaching  Staff,  19054906—865  Pupils 


Sister  M.  Gregory  Miller,  Superior 
Sister  M.  Valeria  Reeb 
Sister  M.  Gonzaga  Dirnberger 
Sister  M.  Pauline  Hermann 


Sister  M.  Rogeria  Timschock 
Sister  M.  Alberta  Graf 
Sister  M.  Lucilla  Eckstein 
Sister  M.  Lucina  Gier 


158 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Sister  M.  Leonissa  Schaefer 
Sister  M.  Corona  Hagemann 
Sister  M.  Clarissa  Schlesiger 
Sister  M.  Mercedes  Vollmer 
Sister  M.  Laura  Fox 
Sister  M.  Cassilda  Mundy 
Sister  M.  Leontina  Mueller 


Sister  M.  Nemesia  Zadow,  Sacristan 
Sister  M.  Carmel  Hanafin  (Music) 
Sister  M.  Susanna  Skrinar, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Celsa  Vrabel, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister   M.  Brigilta  Mystowska 


Teaching  Staff,  19064907—798  Pupils 


Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 


Gregory  Miller,  Superior 
Valeria  Reeb 
Pauline  Hermann 
Clarissa  Schlesiger 
Leonissa  Schaefer 
Corona  Hagemann 
Mercedes  Vollmer 
Laura  Fox 
Lucilla  Eckstein 
Cassilda  Mundy 
Leontina  Mueller 


Sister  M.  Lucina  Gier 

Sister  M.  Adriana  Mueller 

Sister  M.  Carmel  Hanafin,  Music 

Sister  M.  Nemesia  Zadow,  Sacristan 

Sister  M.  Rogeria  Timschock 

Sister  M.  Celsa  Vrabel, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Susanna  Skrinar, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Adriana  Mueller 


Teaching  Staff,  19074908—745  Pupils 


+  Sister  M.   Gregory  Miller,    Superior,  Sister  M. 

died  October  23rd,  1907,  at  St.  Sister  M. 

Joseph's    Hospital,    Joliet,    after  Sister  M. 

an  operation.     Age  55  years,  5  Sister  M. 

months.  4  days.     She  was  born  Sister  M. 

at  New  Hamburg,  Scott  Coun'  Sister  M. 

ty,  Mo.  Sister  M. 

Sister  M.  Valeria  Reeb  Sister  M. 

Sister  M.  Pauline  Hermann  Sister  M. 

Sister  M.  Carmel  Hanafin,  Music  Sister  M. 

Sister  M.  Mercedes  Vollmer  +  Sister  M. 

Sister  M.  Leonissa  Schaefer  Sister  M. 
Sister  M.  Blandina  Neilitz 


Cassilda  Mundy 
Lucina  Gier 
Leontina  Mueller 
Gervaise  Luesse 
Adriana  Mueller 
Hermina  Bucher 
Lucilla  Eckstein 
Nemesia  Zadow,  Sacristan 
Angelina  King 
Alfrieda  Koerber,  in  Oct. 
Celsa  Vrabel 
Melania  Baumgartner 


Teaching  Staff,  19084909—728  Pupils 


Sister  M.  Ottilia  Schmitt.  Superior 
Sister  M.  Thomasine  Frijewska 
Sister  M.  Paulina  Hermann 
Sister  M.  Antonine  Herner 
Sister  M.  Hermina  Bucher 
Sister  M.  Leonissa  Schaefer 
Sister  M.  Mercedes  Vollmer 


Sister  M.  Alfrieda  Koerber 
Sister  M.  Alodia  Wartner 
Sister  M.  Nemesia  Zadow, 

Fancy  Work 
Sister  M.  De  Sales  Aschemann, 

Sacristan 
Sister  M.  Carmel  Hanafin,  Music 


ST.  BONIFACE  SCHOOL 


159 


Sister  M.  Lucilla  Eckstein 
Sister  M.  Cassilda  Mundy 
Sister  M.  Leontina  Mueller 
Sister  M.  Flavia  Lochner 


Teaching  Staff,  1909 

Sister  M.  Ottilia  Schmitt,  Superior 

Sister  M.  Thomasine  Frijewska 

Sister  M.  Mercedes  Vollmer 

Sister  M.  Josephine  Schlicker 

Sister  M.  Hermina  Bucher 

Sister  M.  Leonissa  Schaefer 

Sister  M.  Lucilla  Eckstein 

Sister  M.  Cassilda  Mundy 

Sister  M.  Leontina  Mueller 

Sister  M.  Flavia  Lochner 

Sister  M.  Alfrieda  Koerber  + 

Sister  M.  Alodia  Wartner 


Sister  M.  Pancratia  Cremers, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Fidelis  Klipfel, 

Domestic  Work 

-1910—708  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Concordia  Schubert 
Sister  M.  Carmel  Hanafin,  Music 
Sister  M.  De  Sales  Aschemann, 

Sacristan 
Sister  M.  Nemesia  Zadow, 

Needle  Work 
Sister  M.  Pancratia  Cremers, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Fidelis  Klipfel, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Pascalina  Riegel, 

Domestic  Work 


Teaching  Staff,  1910 

Sister  M.  Ottilia  Schmitt,  Superior 
Sister  M.  Thomasine  Frijewska 
Sister  M.  Josephine  Schlicker 
Sister  M.  Hermina  Bucher 
Sister  M.  Leonissa  Schaefer 
Sister  M.  Lucilla  Eckstein 
Sister  M.  Cassilda  Mundy 
Sister  M.  Concordia  Schubert 
Sister  M.  Flavia  Lochner 
Sister  M.  Macaria  Feldhake 
Sister  M.  Alodia  Wartner 

Teaching  Staff,  1911 

Sister  M.  Ottilia  Schmitt,  Superior 
Sister  M.  Thomasine  Frijewska 
Sister  M.  Josephine  Schlicker 
Sister  M.  Hermina  Bucher 
Sister  M.  Leonissa  Schaefer 
Sister  M.  Lucilla  Eckstein 
Sister  M.  Cassilda  Mundy 
Sister  M.  Concordia  Schubert 
Sister  M.  Alodia  Wartner 
Sister  M.  Beata  Jonik 
Sister  M.  De  Sales  Aschemann, 


1911—669  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Beata  Jonik 

Sister  M.  Carmel  Hanafin,  Music 

Sister  M.  De  Sales  Aschemann, 

Sacristan 
Sister  M.  Louisa  Redlinger, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Nemesia  Zadow, 

Needle  Work 
Sister  M.  Pancratia  Cremers, 

Domestic  Work 


1912—620  Pupils 

Sacristan 
Sister  M.  Nemesia  Zadow, 

Needle  Work 
Sister  M.  Carmel  Hanafin,  Music 
Sister  M.  Pancratia  Cremers, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Andrew  Zeller, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Magdalen  Sondgerath, 

Domestic  Work 


160 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Teaching  Staff,  19124913—498  Pupils 


Sister  M.  Ottilia  Schmitt,  Superior 
Sister  M.  Thomasine  Frijewska 
Sister  M.  Josephine  Schlicker 
Sister  M.  Hermina  Bucher 
Sister  M.  Oliva  Heisserer 
Sister  M.  Leonissa  Schaefer 
Sister  M.  Lucilla  Eckstein 
Sister  M.  Cassilda  Mundy 


Sister  M.  Concordia  Schubert 
Sister  M.  De  Sales  Aschemann, 

Sacristan 
Sister  M.  Ositha  Eipers,  to  Nov.  16 
Sister  M.  Mildred  Kalvelage,  Music 
Sister  M.  Meinrada  Theobald, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Magdalen  Sondgerath 


Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 
Sister  M. 


Teaching  Staff,  19134914 — 413  Pupils 

Ottilia  Schmitt,  Superior        Sister  M.  De  Sales  Aschemann, 

Sacristan 
Sister  M.  Mildred  Kalvelage,  Music 
Sister  M.  Andrew  Zeller, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Meinrada  Theobald, 

Domestic  Work 


Thomasine  Frijewska 
Leonissa  Schaefer 
Lucilla  Eckstein 
Concordia  Schubert 
Oliva  Heisserer 
Hermina  Bucher 
Clentia  Giese 


Teaching  Staff,  19144915—380  Pupils 


Sister  M.  Anna  Miller,  Superior 
Sister  M.  Blanche  Allonas 
Sister  M.  Leonissa  Schaefer 
Sister  M.  Albertine  Kongorski 
Sister  M.  Lucilla  Eckstein 
Sister  M.  Concordia  Schubert 
Sister  M.  Hermina  Bucher 


Sister  M.  Clementia  Giese 
Sister  M.  Annette  Kastner 
Sister  M.  De  Sales  Aschemann, 

Sacristan 
Sister  M.  Scholastica  Kiefer, 

Domestic  Work 
4"  Sister  M.  Meinrada  Theobald 


Teaching  Staff,  19154916—361  Pupils 


Sister  M.  Anna  Miller,  Superior 
Sister  M.  Blanche  Allonas 
Sister  M.  Leonissa  Schaefer 
Sister  M.  Albertine  Kongorski 
Sister  M.  Hermina  Bucher 
Sister  M.  Hilda  Stanton 
Sister  M.  Clementia  Giese 


+  Sister  M.  Annette  Kastner 
Sister  M.  De  Sales  Aschemann, 

Sacristan 
Sister  M.  Pancratia  Cremers, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Rogeria  Sestko, 

Domestic  Work 


Teaching  Staff,  19164917—361  Pupils 


Sister  M.   Cornelia  Becker,   Superior 
Sister  M.  Albertine  Kongorski 
Sister  M.  Marcellina  Linser 
Sister  M.  Nothburga  Musolff 


Sister  M.  Rose  Angela  Amann, 

Music 
Sister  M.  Pancratia  Cremers, 

Domestic  Work 


ST.  BONIFACE  SCHOOL  161 

Sister  M.  dementia  Giese  Sister  M.  Seraphine  Decker, 
Sister  M.  Engelberta  Boner  Domestic  Work 

Sister  M.  Liboria  Girard 

Teaching  Staff,  19174918—242  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Cornelia  Becker,  Superior  Sister  M.  Teresa  Schub 

Sister  M.  Albertine  Kongorski  Sister  M.  Carmelita  Loeffler 

Sister  M.  Marcellina  Linser  Sister  M.  Liboria  Girard 

Sister  M.  Clementia  Giese  Sister  M.  Hubertine  Roufs, 
Sister  M.  Engelberta  Boner  Domestic  Work 

Teaching  Staff,  19184919—229  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Cornelia  Becker,  Superior  Sister  M.  Hermenegild  Moss 

Sister  M.  Hugolina  Franzen  Sister  M.  Liboria  Girard 

Sister  M.  Albertine  Kongorski  Sister  M.  Michael  Miller 

Sister  M.  Marcellina  Linser  Sister  M.  Hubertine  Roufs, 
Sister  M.  Engelberta  Boner  Domestic  Work 

Sister  M.  Alma  Link 

Teaching  Staff,  19194920—305  Pupils 

+  Sister  M.  Cornelia  Becker,  Superior,  Sister  M.  Alma  Link 

died     June     1,     1920,     at     the  Sister  M.  Adeline  Nyholt 

Motherhouse,   Joliet,   111.      Age,  Sister  M.  Hermenegild  Moss 

43  years,   3  mo.,  25  days.  Sister  M.  Liboria  Girard 

Sister  M.  Marcellina  Linser  Sister  M.  Michael  Miller 

Sister  M.  Blandina  Neilitz  Sister  M.  Remberta  Juras, 
Sister  M.  Ildephonse  Young  Domestic  Work 

Teaching  Staff,  19204921—377  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Marcellina  Linser,  Superior  Sister  M.  Cassilda  McMahon,  Music 

Sister  M.  Blandina  Neilitz  Sister  M.  Mauritia  Lang 

Sister  M.  Adriana  Mueller  Sister  M.  Constantia  Corba, 

Sister  M.  Hermenegild  Moss  Domestic  Work 

Sister  M.  Michael  Miller  Sister  M.  Madeline  Arseneau, 

Sister  M.  Liboria  Girard  Domestic  Work 

Sister  M.  Claretta  Stuhldreher 

Teaching  Staff,  19214922—431  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Marcellina  Linser,  Superior  Sister  M.  Liboria  Girard 

Sister  M.  Mauritia  Lang  Sister  M.  Wilhelmina  Pesicka 

Sister  M.  Blandina  Neilitz  Sister  M.  Cassilda  McMahon,  Music 

Sister  M.  Hermenegild  Moss  Sister  M.  Louisa  Redlinger, 
Sister  M.  Alice  Theobald  Domestic  Work 

Sister  M.  Michael  Miller  Sister  M.  Armella  Billian, 
Sister  M.  Laurine  Fetter  Domestic  Work 


162 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Teaching  Staff,  19224923—430  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Marcellina  Linser,  Superior     Sister  M.  Libori  Girard 


Sister  M.  Mauritia  Lang 
Sister  M.  Blandina  Neilitz 
Sister  M.  Laurine  Fetter 
Sister  M.  Hermenegild  Moss 
Sister  M.  Alice  Theobald 
Sister  M.  Michael  Miller 


Sister  M.  Cassilda  McMahon,  Music 
Sister  M.  Aegidia  Pulaski, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Constantia  Corba, 

Domestic  Work 


Teaching  Staff,  19234924—529  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Marcellina  Linser,  Superior      Sister  M.  Henry  Waldschmitt 

Sister  M.  Mauritia  Lang 

Sister  M.  Blandina  Neilitz 

Sister  M.  Hermenegild  Moss 

Sister  M.  Laurine  Fetter 

Sister  M.  Alice  Theobald 

Sister  M.  Michael  Miller 


Sister  M.  Liboria  Girard 

Sister  M.  Cassilda  McMahon,  Music 

Sister  M.  Wilfrieda  Bunda, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Bernard  Leibold 


Teaching  Staff,  1924- 

Sister  M.  Marcellina  Linser,  Superior 
Sister  M.  Mauritia  Lang 
Sister  M.  Blandina  Neilitz 
Sister  M.  Hermenegild  Moss 
Sister  M.  Laurine  Fetter 
Sister  M.  Liboria  Girard 
Sister  M.  Fernanda  Ryan 
Sister  M.  Julitta  Felder 


1925—550  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Michael  Miller 

Sister  M.  Solana  Jansen 

Sister  M.  Georgia  Henkel 

Sister  M.  Cassilda  McMahon,  Music 

Sister  M.  Wilfrieda  Bunda, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Devota  Komara, 

Domestic  Work 


Teaching  Staff,  1925- 

Sister  M.  Julia  Lagger,  Superior 
Sister  M.  Mauritia  Lang 
Sister  M.  Blandina  Neilitz 
Sister  M.  Hermenegild  Moss 
Sister  M.  Laurine  Fetter 
Sister  M.  Martina  Dirnberger 
Sister  M.  julitta  Felder 
Sister  M.  Michael  Miller 


1926—553  Pupils 

Sister  M.  Liboria  Girard 
Sister  M.  Georgia  Henkel 
Sister  M.  Fernanda  Ryan 
Sister  M.  Solana  Jansen 
Sister  M.  Rosalinda  Bueker, 

Domestic  Work 
Sister  M.  Raymunda  Dannenmueller 
Sister  M.  Odilia  Berna 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION 

veryone  nowadays  recognises  the  impor- 
tance of  education.  Schools  are  being 
erected  so  as  to  accommodate  our  youth  and 
make  of  them  ladies  and  gentlemen,  for 
education  has  for  its  prime  purpose  the  for- 
mation of  character.  There  are  various 
systems  of  instruction,  all  of  which  endeavor 
to  bring  about  the  desired  effect — the  for- 
mation of  character. 

Years  ago  the  hustle  and  bustle  was  not  so  great  as  it  is 
now.  So  many  parents  did  not  realise  the  necessity  of  edu- 
cation as  a  means  necessary  for  promotion  and  accomplish- 
ment. They  were  more  or  less  under  the  impression  that  the 
little  schooling  they  had  was  sufficient  to  carry  them  through 
life.  Foremost,  however,  in  their  consideration  of  education 
was  the  knowledge  of  God.  They  knew  that  the  right  serv- 
ice given  to  the  Almighty  meant  an  education  that  could  not 
be  surpassed.  They  indeed  were  unselfish.  They  wished 
their  children  to  enjoy  every  opportunity  of  knowing  the 
Jehovah.  It  seemed  as  if  these  parents  of  years  ago  from 
their  religious  convictions  understood  the  great  difficulty  of 
the  formation  of  character  with  the  absence  of  the  fear  of 
God  instilled  within  the  hearts  of  their  children.  They  dwelt 
upon  this  point  vigorously  and  consistently.  It  is  for  this 
reason  that  the  old  German  settlers  founded  the  system  of 
parochial  education.  The  knowledge  of  God  was  absolutely 
necessary.  So  much  so,  that  many  times  in  the  history  of 
the  founding  of  new  parishes  among  the  German  descendants 

163 


EMANUEL    BEHRENDT,    O.F.M. 
A   St.    Boniface   bov. 


J.   WESTKAMP 
A  former  Curate  at  St.   Boniface. 


FRANCIS   H.   CICHOZKI 

Subdeaconship,  March  15th,  1902,  by  Arch' 
bishop    Katzer. 

Deaconship,  March  16th,  1902,  by  Arch' 
bishop    Katzer. 

Priesthood,  June  21st,  1902,  by  Bishop 
Muldoon. 

Classics  at  St.  Lawrence  College,  Mt.  Cal- 
vary. 

Philosophy  and  Theology,  St.  Francis,  Wis- 
consin. 

A   St.    Boniface   bov. 


PETER  J.  CICHOZKI 
Minor  Orders,  May  22nd,    1907,   by  Bishop 

Muldoon. 
Subdeaconship,  May  23rd,    1907,  by  Bishop 

Muldoon. 
Deaconship,    May    24th,     1907,    by    Bishop 

Muldoon. 
Priesthood,  June  21st,   1907,  by  Archbishop 

Quigley. 
Born  on  August  12th,   1884,  at  Chicago. 
Studied  at  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  and  St.  Francis, 

Wis. 
A  St.  Boniface  boy. 


JOHN  P.  RONDZIK 

Minor  Orders,  June  6th,  7th,  1916,  by 
Bishop    Trobec. 

Subdeaconship,  June  12th,  1917,  by  Arch- 
bishop Ireland. 

Deaconship,  September  21st,  1917,  by  Arch' 
bishop  Mundelein. 

Priesthood,  September  22nd,  1917,  by  Arch- 
bishop Mundelein. 

Born  July  29th,   1894,  Saria,  Hungary. 

Classics,   St.    Bonaventures. 

Philosophy  and  Theology,  St.  Paul  Semi- 
nary. 

A  former  Curate  at  St.   Boniface. 


J.   P.   SUERTH 

Subdeacon,  December  17th,   1892,  by  Mon- 

signor  Satolli,  D.D. 
Deaconship,    June    21st,     1893,     by    Bishop 

Chapelle,   D.D. 
Priesthood,  December  9th,    1893,  by  Bishop 

E.   J.    Dunne. 
Born  in  Chicago,  February  9th,   1866. 
Classics   at   St.    Francis   Seminary  and   Bour- 

bonnais. 
Philosophy   at   Bourbonnais. 
Theology     at     St.     Mary's,     Baltimore     and 

Bourbonnais. 
A  St.  Boniface  boy. 

GEORGE   B.   LESCHER 
Minor    Orders,    September   27th,    1920,    and 

May  23rd,   1921,  by  Bishop  O.  Corregan. 
Subdeaconship,   April  9th,    1923,   by  Bishop 

Shahan. 
Deaconship,    May     13th,     1923,    by    Bishop 

Hoban. 
Priesthood,  May  26th,   1923,  by  Archbishop 

Mundelein. 
Born  August  20th,   1897,  at  Chicago. 
Philosophy  at  St.  Mary's  Seminary. 
Theology,   Sulpician   Seminary,   Washington, 

D.  C. 
Classics  at  Cathedral  College. 
A  St.   Boniface  boy. 


164 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  165 

of  this  country  the  school  was  built  first  and  then  the  church. 

This  was  the  condition  of  the  early  beginnings  of  St.  Boni- 
face parish.  The  settlers,  in  the  sparsely  colonised  western 
limits  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  yearned  for  a  place  of  worship. 
But  they  were  mindful  of  the  fact  that  a  school  was  of  great 
importance  toward  the  fulfilling  of  their  obligation  to  God 
with  reference  to  their  children.  Therefore,  the  school  pre- 
ceded the  building  of  a  church  by  a  number  of  years.  But 
the  fruits  of  their  course  of  action  is  very  apparent  when  we 
consider  that  they  have  turned  to  God's  service  fifty-six  of 
their  daughters  and  more  than  a  dosen  of  their  sons. 

Finality  in  all  things  is  the  first  point  to  be  remembered. 
And  they  did  remember.  They  were  mindful.  They  did 
enjoy  a  real  sensible  good  by  the  pleasure  derived  from  the 
fulfillment  of  the  end  they  had  in  view.  However,  a  moral 
good  came  to  them  to  arising  from  the  dual  faculties  of  free 
will  and  intellect,  which,  because  of  education,  gave  birth  to 
responsibility.  It  made  for  real  men  and  women  capable  of 
directing  themselves  toward  the  good  and  upright  in  life. 

The  great  thesis:  "God  is  the  ultimate  end  of  man"  was 
known  to  these  early  people  who  founded  the  St.  Boniface 
parish.  In  their  own  simple  way  they  made  this  thesis  prac- 
tical. They  studied  out  for  themselves  that  the  intellect  and 
will  must  be  completely  satisfied  for  happiness  which  they 
would  have  defined  as  the  permanent  possession  of  the  per- 
fect good  which  completely  satisfies  the  soul.  They  argued 
man's  intellect  and  will  cannot  be  completely  satisfied  with 
the  things  of  the  world  owing  to  their  contingency.  Conse- 
quently man  obtains  his  perfection  in  God.  They  fully  real- 
ized that  there  existed  different  kinds  of  good;  the  good  of 
fortune  such  as  riches,  the  good  of  the  body  such  as  health, 
the  good  of  the  soul  such  as  virtue.    What  were  they  to  do? 


GEORGE  SCHARK 

Said  first  Mass  June    14th,    1908. 
Ordained   June    13th,    1908,    by   Most    Rev. 

Archbishop   Quigley. 
Studied   at   St.    Francis,    Kenrick,   St.    Louis, 

and  St.   Meinrad. 
A  St.   Boniface  boy. 


P.    L.   BIERMANN 
Subdeaconship,  by  Most  Rev.   M.   Heiss. 
Deaconship,  December,  1885,  by  Most  Rev. 

M.  Heiss. 
Priesthood,    October    17th,     1886,    by    Most 

Rev.   M.    Heiss. 
Born     Elspe,     Westphalia,     December     10th, 

1863. 
Studied   at  Elspe  and   St.    Francis   Seminary, 

Milwaukee. 
A  former  Curate  at  St.   Boniface. 


JOHN  B.   SPRENGEL 

Minor  Orders,  April  28th,  1918,  by  Cardi- 
nal Pompili. 

Subdeaconship,  December  21st,  1918,  by 
Cardinal    Pompili. 

Deaconship,  January  19th,  1919,  by  Cardi- 
nal  Pompili. 

Priesthood,  June  14th,  1919,  by  Cardinal 
Pompili. 

Born  August  21st,   1894,  at  Chicago. 

Classics  at  Cathedral  College,  Philosophy 
and  Theology  at  North  American  College, 
Rome. 

A   St.    Boniface   boy. 


JOSEPH  DICKMAN 
Subdeaconship,  March  17th,   1888,  by  Most 

Rev.   M.    Heiss. 
Deaconship,    March    18th,    1888,    by    Most 

Rev.   M.   Heiss. 
Priesthood,  June  2  3rd,   1888,  by  Most  Rev. 

P.    A.    Feehan. 
Born    in    Luxemburg,    Germany,    July    4th, 

1861. 
Studied  SS.  Peter  and  Paul,  Brilon,  and  St. 

Francis,    Milwaukee. 
A  former  Curate  at  St.   Boniface. 


A.  J.  WOLFGARTEN 
Subdeaconship,    March    14th,    1891,    by   Rt. 

Rev.    Bishop    Kalzer. 
Deaconship,  March  15th,   1891,  by  Rt.  Rev. 

Bishop    Kalzer. 
Priesthood,  June  21st,    1891,   by  Most  Rev. 

P.  A.  Feehan. 
Born  at  Hilberath,  June  6th,   1866. 
Classics,  Prussia  and  Mt.  Calvary. 
Philosophy,  Baltimore  Manglino. 
Theology,   St.   Francis,   Wis. 
A  former  Curate  at  St.  Boniface. 


H.   BANGEN 
Former  Curate  at  St.   Boniface. 


166 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  167 

Were  they  to  equip  their  sons  and  daughters  in  that  knowl- 
edge only  which  would  bring  them  wealth?  Were  they  to 
permit  their  sons  and  daughters  to  train  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  fulfill  the  Spartan  ideal  of  a  strong  body?  Where  they  to 
instill  within  the  youthful  hearts  of  their  sons  and  daughters 
virtue?  One  of  these  standards  of  perfection  seemed  alone 
opened  to  them.  They  were  not  able  to  consider  the  happy 
combination.  The  Scripture  text,  "What  does  it  profit  a 
man  if  he  gains  the  whole  world  but  suffers  the  loss  of  his 
soul?"  stood  in  refutation  of  adopting  a  too  worldly  educa- 
tion. There  must  be  religion!  As  far  as  strength  of  body  is 
concerned  the  children  could  have  all  the  recreation  neces- 
sary for  such  requirement  by  assisting  with  the  work  about 
the  house.  Sport  for  sport's  sake  was  not  known  in  those 
days.  The  reasoning  that  eliminated  the  first  ideal  as  imprac- 
tical made  the  latter  impregnable. 

Religious  education  was  the  unanimous  decision,  for  to 
them  it  formed  the  basis  upon  which  the  social  edifice  must 
rest.  "Without  a  great  creative  idea,  whence  will  flow  the 
ideas  of  reason,  virtue,  justice,  obligation  and  right,  which  are 
as  necessary  to  the  existence  and  preservation  of  society  as 
blood  and  nourishment  are  to  the  life  of  the  individual, 
society  would  be  destroyed — without  sweet  ties  by  which  re- 
ligious ideas  unite  together  the  members  of  the  family,  with- 
out the  heavenly  harmony,  which  they  infuse  into  all  the 
connections,  the  family  would  cease  to  exist,  or  at  least  would 
be  only  a  rude  and  transient  union,  resembling  the  intercourse 
of  animals. "  Thus  wrote  the  great  philosopher  Balmes, 
about  seventy-five  years  ago.  Is  there  any  wonder  then,  that 
these  early  pioneers  rigorously  upheld  and  practiced  their 
ideal? 

In  keeping  with  the  program,  which  the  people  had  made 


HENRY  RETZEK 
Minor  Orders,  Mav  26th,    1915,   bv  Bishop 

Rhode. 
Subdeaconship,  Mav  27th,    1915,  bv   Bishop 

Rhode. 
Deaconship,    Mav    28th,     1915,    bv    Bishop 

Rhode. 
Priesthood,     Mav     29th,     1915,     bv     Bishop 

Rhode. 
Born  August  16th,   1891,  at  Chicago,  111. 
Classics     Theology    and    Philosophy    at    St. 

Francis  Seminary,   Wis. 
A  St.   Boniface  bov. 


L.  SCHAEFFER 
Ordained  to  priesthood  in   1869. 
First  year  Theology  at  St.  Francis,  Mikvau' 

kee. 
Went  to  the  Holy  Land.     Died.     Buried  on 

the   Island  of  Cypress. 
A  former  Curate  at  St.  Boniface. 


AL.  SCHMIDT 
A   former  Curate  at  St.   Boniface. 


A.  F.  KORTHALS 

Minor  Orders,  March  29th,  1911,  by  Arch- 
bishop   Quigley. 

Subdeaconship,  March  30th,  1911,  by  Arch 
bishop    Quigley. 

Deaconship,  March  3 1st,  1911,  by  Arch' 
bishop  Quigley. 

Priesthood,  April  1st,  1911,  by  Archbishop 
Quiglev. 

Born  April  2nd,   1883. 

Classics  at  Sacred  Heart  and  St.  Ignatius 
College. 

Philosophy,  Prairie  du  Chien,  Wis. 

Theology,   St.   Paul   Seminary. 

A  St.   Boniface  bov. 


ALBERT  REISEL 

Minor  Orders,  May  18th,  1910,  by  Arch- 
bishop   Quigley. 

Subdeacon,  May  19th,  1910,  by  Archbishop 
Quigley. 

Deaconship,  May  20th,  1910,  by  Arch- 
bishop   Quigley. 

Priesthood,  Mav  21st,  1910,  bv  Archbishop 
Quiglev. 

Born  December  17th,  1883. 

Classics,  Philosophy  and  Theology  at  St. 
Francis    Seminary,    Wis. 

A    St.    Boniface    boy. 


ARTHUR   A.    TERLECKI 

Minor  Orders,  June  9th,  1917,  by  Bishop 
Trobec. 

Subdeaconship,  June  11th,  1918,  by  Bishop 
Trobec. 

Deaconship,  August  15th,  1918,  by  Bishop 
McGavick. 

Priesthood,  September  21st,  1918,  Arch- 
bishop Mundclein. 

Born  July  20th,   1894,  at  Hoboken,  N.  Y. 

Classics  at  St.  Ignatius  College  and  St. 
Francis  Seminary. 

Philosophy  and  Theology  at  St.  Paul  Sem- 
inary. 

A  St.   Boniface  bov. 


168 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  169 

history  even  before  the  time  that  a  spiritual  adviser  had  been 
appointed  to  them,  Father  James  Marshall,  shortly  after  his 
pastorate  to  St.  Boniface  became  effective,  journeyed  to  St. 
Francis  Convent,  Joliet,  Illinois,  to  arrange  for  a  teaching 
staff  of  nuns  to  replace  the  lay  teachers.  The  nuns,  after  all, 
he  must  have  argued,  are  ideal  instructors  for  youth,  posses' 
sing  noble  hearts  and  souls,  obeying  divine  laws,  truly  sym' 
pathetic  and  vigilant  for  the  pupil's  welfare.  The  religious 
lead  their  pupils  lovingly  and  gently  to  the  religious  truths 
of  God.  Our  brotherhoods  and  sisterhoods  are  models  for 
the  pupils,  men  and  women  of  God,  of  learning  and  sanctity, 
whose  lives  are  consecreated  to  God's  best  interests  and  hu' 
inanity's  best  welfare.  Their  example  enforces  the  words  of 
their  mouth.  Hearts  are  swayed  more  by  deeds  than  by 
words.  Should  the  teacher's  life  contradict  the  truth  of  his 
teaching,  then  his  labors  are  worthless.  Teachers  are  the 
main  object  lesson  in  the  schoolroom. 

There  seems  to  be  an  old  saying  to  this  effect:  "What  you 
do  not  have  you  cannot  give."  This  is  particularly  true  with 
regard  to  education.  No  fountain  of  human  knowledge 
should  be  neglected.  The  human  mind  must  be  cultivated 
to  form  eminently  intellectual  citizens,  but  at  the  same  time 
the  human  heart,  soul  and  will  must  be  trained  by  religion. 
Love  must  come  from  those  who  love.  And  love  is  neces' 
sary  for  the  building  of  the  home.  Someone  asked  sometime 
what  makes  a  home?  The  poetic  reply,  with  more  truth 
than  poetry,  follows: 

"What  makes  a  home?    Not  furniture  or  plate, 
But  love  transcending  petty  faults  and  hate. 
Love  makes  the  home  and  fills  it  with  light 
That  helps  lift  upwards  from  the  dreary  night. 


CHARLES  S.  NIX 
Priesthood,  July   11th,   1903,  by  Most  Rev. 

J.   E.   Quigley,  DD. 
Born    at    Louisville,     111.,     September    2nd, 

1878. 
Former  Curate  at  St.  Boniface. 


BENNO  RETZEK 

Minor  Orders,  May  22nd,  23rd,  24th,  1920, 
by   Bishop    Rhode. 

Subdeaconship,  June  20th,  1920,  by  Arch- 
bishop  Messmer. 

Deaconship.  October  10th,  1920,  by  Arch- 
bishop  Messmer. 

Priesthood,  May  21st,  1921,  by  Archbishop 
Mundelein. 

Born  July   26th,    1896,   in   Chicago. 

Theology,  Philosophy  and  Classics  at  St. 
Francis,  Milwaukee. 

A  St.  Boniface  boy. 


F.  X.   HARNISCHMACHER 
Minor  Orders,  April  12th,   1916,  by  Bishop 

Lawler. 
Subdeaconship,  April  13th,  1916,  by  Bishop 

Lawler. 
Deaconship,    April    14th,    1916,    by    Bishop 

Lawler. 
Priesthood,  June  17th,  1916,  by  Archbishop 

Mundelein. 
Born  November   10th,   1885,  at  Olpe,  Wes- 

phalia,   Germany. 
Classics    at   Minster,    Westphalia,    Germany. 
Philosophy  at  Rochester,   N.   Y. 
Theology,    St.   Paul,   Minn. 
Former  Curate  at  St.  Boniface. 

JOSEPH  ADAMS 
Minor    Orders,    March    7th,    1912,    by    Rt. 

Rev.  P.  P.  Rhode. 
Subdeaconship,    March    8th,     1912,    by    Rt. 

Rev.   P.   P.   Rhode. 
Deaconship,    May    31st,    1912,    by   Rt.    Rev. 

P.    P.    Rhode. 
Priesthood,    June    1st,    1912,    by   Most   Rev. 

J.   E.   Quigley. 
Born  November  9th,   1885. 
Classics,   Germany. 
Philosophy,  St.  Francis,  Milwaukee. 
Theology,   St.   Francis,  Milwaukee. 
Former  Curate  at  St.   Boniface. 


PAUL  RUSCH 
Ordained    June    23rd,    1895.      Died    March 

11th,    1917. 
A  St.   Boniface  boy. 


THEODORE  GROSS 

Ordained    Tune    21st,    1902.      Baptized   July 

15th,   1874,  by  Father  Venn. 
A   St.    Boniface   boy. 


170 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  171 

What  makes  a  home?    Not  fashions  or  display, 
But  love,  before  which  evil  flees  away; 
Love  makes  the  home;  without  it  dark  indeed 
The  house  of  hearts  that  suffer,  ache  and  bleed. 

What  makes  a  home?    Not  brica'brac  and  art, 
But  love  whose  furnishings  are  of  the  heart, 
And  with  that  simple  and  sublime  content 
Helps  life  perform  the  duties  daily  sent. 

What  makes  the  home?    Not  latest  fads  or  styles, 

But  love,  whose  fashions  is  of  sunny  smiles, 

Clear  laughing,  ringing  on  the  lips  of  trust, 

And  faith's  white  blossom  burgeoning  through  the  dust." 

We  may  recall  in  this  connection  the  warning  words  of 
the  father  of  his  country,  the  immortal  Washington,  in  his 
farewell  address  to  his  countrymen  less  than  a  hundred  years 
prior  to  the  building  of  the  St.  Boniface  School  and  the  se' 
curing  of  the  religious  from  the  Order  of  St.  Francis  to 
teach: 

"Of  all  the  dispositions  and  habits  which  lead  to  political 
prosperity,  religion  and  morality  are  indispensable  supports. 
In  vain  would  that  man  claim  the  tribute  of  patriotism,  who 
should  labor  to  subvert  these  great  pillars  of  human  happi" 
ness,  these  firmest  props  of  the  duties  of  men  and  citizens. 
The  mere  politician,  equally  with  the  pious  man,  ought  to 
respect  and  to  cherish  them.  A  volume  could  not  trace  all 
their  connections  with  private  and  public  felicity.  Let  it 
simply  be  asked  where  is  the  security  for  property,  for  repu' 
tation,  for  life,  if  the  sense  of  religious  obligation  desert  the 


172  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

oaths  which  are  the  instruments  of  investigation  in  courts  of 
justice.  And  let  us  with  caution  indulge  the  supposition, 
that  morality  can  be  maintained  without  religion.  Whatever 
may  be  conceded  to  the  influence  of  refined  education  or 
minds  of  peculiar  structure,  reason  and  experience  both  for' 
bid  us  to  expect  that  national  morality  can  prevail  in  exclu- 
sion of  religious  principles. 

"It  is  substantially  true,  that  virtue  or  morality  is  a  neces- 
sary spring  of  popular  government.  The  rule,  indeed,  ex- 
tends with  more  or  less  force  to  every  species  of  free  govern- 
ment. Who,  that  is  a  sincere  friend  to  it,  can  look  with 
indifference  upon  attempts  to  shake  the  foundation  of  the 
fabric?" 

These  words  of  our  first  president  of  these  United  States 
make  quite  plain  his  convictions.  However,  the  effective- 
ness of  religious  education  can  be  better  based  on  our  experi- 
ence than  upon  his  convictions.  The  Sisters  from  the  Order 
of  St.  Francis  have  done  a  marvelous  work  in  St.  Boniface 
School.  They  have  surely  effected  the  object  of  education 
and  have  merited  for  themselves  the  title  of  character 
builders.  For  they  have  instilled  into  the  mind  of  the  child, 
duty  to  God,  to  neighbor  and  to  self,  respect  for  individual 
rights,  observance  of  the  laws  of  God  and  civil  laws,  to  be 
just  to  God  and  to  be  just  to  man.  They  were  surely  aware 
that  the  foundation  of  character  is  morality  and  the  basis 
thereof  religion. 

But  what  is  character?  The  answer  revolves  upon  what 
has  been  said:  "Character  is  virtue,  truth,  moral  strength, 
and  spiritual  courage."  The  teachers  of  St.  Boniface  School 
eminently  accomplished  all  that  is  contained  in  that  defini- 
tion. They  were  the  dispensers  of  virtue.  Their  pure  Chris- 
tian life,  sound  moral  character  and  faculty  of  possessing  the 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  173 

gift  and  imparting  knowledge  certainly  made  them  eligible 
as  leaders  of  children  and  man.  The  very  habit  they  wear 
impressed  itself  upon  the  youthful  hearts  of  their  pupils  so 
that  such  a  large  number  as  fifty-nine  embraced  it  and  the  life 
of  sacrifice,  its  accompaniment,  rather  than  all  the  vanity  of 
earthly  things  tempted  them  to  secure.  The  habit  of  life 
followed  by  these  nuns,  sacrificed  of  their  own  volition  to  the 
cause  of  training  youth,  give  them  the  character  that  the 
office  of  an  educator  demands,  their  memory,  intellect  and 
will  being  fully  exercised  by  their  religious  morning  medita- 
tions.  Having  consecrated  their  lives  to  this  sacred  profes- 
sion,  they  consider  as  a  matter  of  conscience  the  strict  per- 
formance of  their  duty.  Not  considering  their  profession  as 
something  temporary,  but  as  a  means  of  eternal  salvation, 
they  endeavor  to  do  all  things  well,  their  mind  being  im- 
pressed that  perfection  consists  in  performing  ordinary  things 
with  extraordinary  perfection.  Feeling  the  great  importance 
of  their  work,  they  do  not  act  as  mere  teachers  imparting 
knowledge,  but  seek  to  develop  the  noblest  and  suppress  the 
dangerous  qualities  of  their  pupils. 

Fifty-nine  young  ladies  who  have  been  under  the  tutelage 
of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Francis  at  St.  Boniface  School  have  en- 
tered the  convent.  An  average  of  one  every  year  since  the 
opening  of  the  school  in  charge  of  the  religious.  We  must 
concede  that  that  number  of  postulants  and  religious  out  of 
St.  Boniface  School  is  a  great  record.  We  are  not  aware  of 
any  one  parish  whose  records  could  duplicate  such  a  report- 
Truly  they  have  done  a  work  of  God.  "Go  ye  forth  and 
teach !"  and  then,  "the  harvest  is  great  but  the  laborers  are 
few!"  must  have  been  the  impetus  behind  such  great  accom- 
plishment. But  greater  fruits  of  their  labor  were  forthcoming. 
Twelve  young  men  ordained  to  the  service  of  the  sanctuary 


Sister    M.    Alberta    Graf    (Bertha), 
August    15th,    1899 


Sister  M.    Benigria   Reisel    (Marga' 
ret),  March  6th,   1905 


Sister  M.  Emma  Borlek  (Theresa), 
August  15th,  1899;  ^December 
2,    1920 


Sister     M.     Fridoline     Wasielewski 
(Clara),  March  6th,   1904 


Sister    M.    Boniface    Renner    (Sus- 
anna), November  8th,   1888 


Sister  M.  Honoria  Wasielewska 
(Valeria),  February  12th,  1901; 
^August   13th,    1906 


Sister   M.    Leonore    Kongorski    (Jc 
hanna),  August  12th,  1911 


Sister  M.  Aquina  Ruhnke  (Mary), 
March  19th,  1895;  ^August 
20th.    1896 


174 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  175 

and  three  students  persuing  their  studies  for  the  priesthood 
give  them  rightful  claim  of  having  been  about  "their  Father's 
business." 

Our  heavenly  Father  must  surely  be  pleased  with  the  re' 
suits  of  their  endeavor.  What  earthly  father  or  mother  will 
complain  at  seeing  their  daughter  robed  as  a  guardian  of 
youth  in  the  religious  habit  of  some  saint?  What  earthly 
father  or  mother  will  show  dissatisfaction  at  their  son  having 
taken  to  himself  the  Church  as  his  bride  for  time  and  eternity. 
We  are  all  bound  to  serve  God.  The  first  knowledge  of  the 
Creator  points  out  to  us  that  the  creature  is  subservient  to 
the  Creator.  In  a  special  manner  these  sons  and  daughters 
have  consecrated  themselves  to  God.  Will  God  forsake 
them?  Will  God  forget  the  parents  who  have  made  the  sacri' 
fice  of  offering  their  son  or  daughter  to  His  service?  We 
cannot  for  a  moment  think  God  unmindful  of  the  love  ties 
that  bind  human  nature  so  closely;  and,  particularly  not  in 
view  of  the  statement  which  he  confessed  to  men,  that  "the 
laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire." 

Happy  father  and  mother  who  have  a  son  or  daughter 
that  are  religious!  It  indeed  signifies  that  God  has  blessed 
your  home  by  His  personal  visitation.  He  has  tenderly  em' 
braced  you  in  that  He  has  accepted  your  son  or  daughter  to 
be  His  special  envoy.  You  know  how  you  would  feel  if  your 
son  or  daughter  was  elevated  to  some  station  of  worth  by  the 
Ruler  of  the  Land.  Not  the  Ruler  of  the  Land,  but  the 
Ruler  of  the  entire  creation  has  designated  your  son  or 
daughter  to  work  in  a  special  manner  in  His  vineyard.  Is 
there  reason  for  happiness?    Most  assuredly! 

What  is  a  nun?  A  nun  is  a  person  of  exalted  spiritual  life 
bent  upon  doing  the  will  of  God  in  detail.  She  is  clothed 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  marked  by  all  man.     But  even 


Sister    M.    Lillian    Bredel    (Marie), 
August  12th,   1918 


Sister  M.  Clementine  Koch  (Marga- 
ret), July  12th,   1875 


Sister    M.    Donata    Dams    (Mary). 
August  12th,   1906 


Sister  M.  Berchman  Frejewska 
(Eva).  March  28th,  1889;  +June 
22nd.    1898 


Sister  M.  Francisca  Sorn  (Cecilia), 
August  12th,  1885;  ^December 
18th.    1896 


Sister  M.  Sylvester  Kunkel  (Jo- 
hanna). August  15th,  1900; 
*July  20th,   1920 


Sister  M.   Geraldine   Demes    (Eliza- 
beth), August   12th,   1907 


Sister  M.  Lydia  Behrendt  (Mary), 
March  6th,  1900:  +June  28th, 
1919 


176 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  177 

though  the  habit  would  not  reveal  her  identity  in  her  special 
mission;  her  work  with  the  impress  of  God's  satisfaction 
marked  thereon  would  not  be  liable  to  mistake.  The  guar 
dian  of  youth  giving  untiring  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  children. 
The  angel  of  solace  offering  consolation  to  the  sick  and  pre- 
paring  the  dying  to  make  appearance  before  the  Master.  In 
either  vocation  she  is  an  asset  in  the  kingdom  of  God  on  earth, 
promoting  the  thought  of  our  dependence  upon  God  in 
young  and  old  alike,  not  only  by  word  of  mouth  but  partial' 
larly  and  most  of  all  by  the  good  example  which  is  the  out' 
standing  feature  of  the  sisterhoods. 

Not  every  daughter  joins  the  sisterhoods.  Although 
everyone  respects  those  who  have  been  singularly  honored  by 
such  a  divine  vocation.  Even  though  the  dangerous  unrest 
in  social  life  about  us  is  only  too  evident.  The  tide  may  be 
stilled  by  good  living.  So  in  their  quiet  and  unassuming  way 
the  religious  do  their  work.  In  a  great  degree  the  unrest  is 
traceable  to  the  same  source  and  influence,  which  have 
wrought  ruin  in  so  many  homes  of  our  country,  no  one  who 
examines  the  question  carefully,  will  be  found  to  deny.  Con- 
tempt of  legitimate  authority  and  of  moral  obligation  lie  at 
the  root  of  the  evil  in  each  instance.  Like  a  flower  among 
the  weeds  the  religious  rise  up  only  to  bow  subserviently  to 
their  superiors.  This  is  their  influence  upon  the  children, 
for  children  are  observing  and  like  parrots  they  follow  the 
lead.  The  power  of  good  example  from  the  venerable  nuns 
cannot  be  over-estimated  when  considering  the  worth  of  that 
body  of  God's  appointees. 

But  what  if  there  is  no  moral  law — if  it  is  only  a  pretty 
fiction,  invented  for  the  good  order  of  society,  he  is,  of  course, 
only  a  fool,  who  would  sacrifice  his  individual  pleasure  or 
interest  in  obedience  to  its  command.    Why  respect  author- 


Sister  M.  Eugenia  Frank  O.S.F. 


Sister      M.      Albertina      Kongorski 
(Regina),  March  25th,   1898 


Sister     M.     Thomasine     Frejewska 
(Elizabeth),  July  2,  1895 


Sister      M.      Humiliana      Behrendt 
(Catherine),  August   12th,   1904 


Sister  M.  Hyacintha  Bessa  (Clara) 
March    25th,    1882 


Sister  M.  Francisca  Reisel  (Eliza- 
beth), August  12th,  1906;  +De- 
cember  21st,    1920 


Sister  M.  Charles  Weidemann 
(Mary),  March  28th,  1889; 
+March  4th,   1907 


Sister  M.  Clemens  Demes  (Jo- 
hanna), February  25th,  1892; 
+May    31st,    1924 


178 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  179 

ity  if  force  be  its  only  sanction?  The  principle  applies  as  well 
to  society  generally,  and  to  its  members  as  to  the  family  or 
cloistered  individuals. 

Where  then,  can  organized  society  look  for  the  security 
so  indispensable  to  its  order  and  well  being?  Shall  men  be 
governed  by  love  or  fear — by  love  of  justice — by  sense  of 
right — or  by  fear  of  punishment?  But  what  is  justice,  what 
is  right?    If  there  be  no  moral  law,  who  can  answer? 

Here  is  where  the  peculiar  excellence  of  the  Catholic  Doc 
trine  comes  to  the  aid  of  society.  It  brings  with  it  no  uncer- 
tain  message.  There  is  neither  flattery  for  the  poor  nor  fawn' 
ing  to  power.  For  master  or  servant,  for  employer  or  em- 
ployee, for  the  governing  or  the  governed,  it  has  the  same 
moral  code.  That  code  exacts  justice,  while  it  commands 
obedience.  The  Catholic  sisterhood  is  the  right  arm  of  the 
Church  and  with  it  she  would  save  society  from  the  ruin, 
which  foolish  men  would  bring  upon  it  and  upon  themselves. 
The  Catholic  Church  understands,  for  she  has  divine  wis- 
dom to  guide  her,  and  the  human  wisdom  gathered  from  two 
thousand  years'  experience,  that  the  real  battle  of  civilisation, 
for  social  progress  and  order,  must  be  fought  out  in  the  hearts 
of  men,  in  the  seat  of  the  human  passions;  that  this  contest 
calls  weapons  and  forces,  which  the  world  cannot  supply, 
and  which  must  be  drawn  from  above. 

The  Catholic  Church  teaches  with  infallible  authority  and 
unerring  certainty  that  the  providence  visible  in  the  universe 
about  us,  whose  power  and  wisdom  are  displayed  on  every 
hand,  regulating  with  equal  care  the  relations  of  the  atoms 
that  dance  in  the  sunbeam,  and  of  the  planets  that  wheel  in 
their  orbits  through  the  fields  of  space,  did  not  leave  men 
without  a  law  to  regulate  their  relations  to  each  other  and  to 
Him,  a  law  no  less  fixed  and  immutable  than  that  imposed 


ft 


Sister   M.    Zita    Behrendt    (Anna), 
January  1st,   1895 


Sister  M.  Ermelinda  Nelles  (Anna); 
July  25th,    1896 


Sister    M.    Elvira    Bredel    (Helen), 
August    12th,    1921 


Sister  M.    James    Balousek,    August 
12th,    1915 


Sister    M.    Edmunda    Spannheimer 
(Rosa).    December    29th,    1895 


Sister   M.    Francella   Dams    (Rose). 
August    12th,    1921 


Sister      M.      Etheldreda      Lambeau 
(Eva),  February  24th,   1903 


Sister       M.       Nothburga       Musolff 
(Mary  Rose),  August  12th,  1904 


180 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  181 

upon  inanimate  nature,  and  as  essential  to  the  conservation 
of  the  human  race,  but  suited  to  rational  beings  and  con' 
sistent  with  their  freedom,  and  so  a  law  TO  ENLIGHTEN 
AND  TO  GUIDE,  but  not  to  compel  or  coerce,  for  the 
Creator  sought  not  the  obedience  of  slaves.  And  so  we 
arrive  at  the  voluntary  sweet  service  tendered  only  too  gladly 
by  His  chosen  children.  They  are  not  slaves!  They  are 
free  agents! 

Just  the  thought  that  this  community  of  nuns  have  to  their 
credit  seventeen  children  of  the  parish  who  have  been  or- 
dained to  the  priesthood.  The  work,  like  the  work  proper  to 
the  Catholic  priesthood,  is  divine  and  heavenly  in  its  char- 
acter, and  therefore  immortal  in  its  duration.  Time  cannot 
efface  it.  What  then  is  the  Catholic  priesthood;  what  is  its 
work  in  the  world,  what  is  the  ministry  that  makes  the 
priest's  life  one  series  of  glorious  deeds,  on  e  continual  source 
of  blessing  to  mankind? 

In  the  Gospel  we  have  Christ  shown  to  us  in  his  truest 
character,  namely  as  the  Saviour  of  sinners.  The  Gospel  says 
he  went  down  to  men,  who  were  reputed  as  sinners,  whom 
the  self-righteous  Pharasees  spurned  as  men  unworthy  of 
their  notice,  whom  they  avoided  as  a  leprous  contagion. 
Christ  went  to  them  as  man  goes  to  his  fellowman;  He  sat 
down  in  the  midst  of  them,  as  a  friend  amongst  friends;  He 
broke  bread  with  them  as  a  pledge  of  good  will  and  fellow- 
ship. In  all  of  this  Christ  shows  Himself  as  a  true  man,  with 
needs  and  sympathies  and  affections  like  our  own.  But  now 
He  rises  above  His  surroundings.  His  eye  sweeps  over  the 
company  around  Him  at  the  table,  it  kindles  with  a  divine 
effulgence,  His  gase  searches  their  souls  and  sees  them  seared 
and  charred  with  manifold  sins,  and  then  His  heart  swells  up 
in  sympathy  and  His  soul  pours  out  the  stories  of  mercy.    He 


Sister      M.      Charitas      Stachowitz, 
January    1st,    1895 


Sister  M.  Gertrude  Schmitt  (Julia) 
August   19th,    1882 


Sister  M.  Rayneria  Korthals   (Fran- 
ces),  December   29th,    1895 


Sister  M.   Hildegardis  Kroll,  March 
19th,    1895 


Sister  M.  Casimir  Jadzewski,  March 
6th,    1900:  ^February  2nd,   1907 


Sister      M.       Severina      Borkowski, 
Aug.ust   15th.   1900 


Sister  M.  Juliana  Pankanin,  Decem- 
ber 29th,    1895 


Sister  M.  Placida  Badzinska,  March 
6th.    1900;   ^August    16th,    1916 


182 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  183 

tells  of  the  lost  sheep  and  lost  piece  of  money.  The  loss  of 
both  is  a  grief  to  the  heart;  the  search  for  them  is  long  and 
untiring,  till  the  find  is  made  with  rejoicing,  and  the  return 
becomes  a  feast  of  gladness. 

So  the  heart  of  God  seeks  to  find  and  save  every  erring 
and  sinful  soul  in  this  world.  How  those  hearts  hardened 
and  perverted  though  they  were,  thawed  up  and  softened  and 
melted,  when  hearing  these  stories  from  the  lips  of  Christ; 
how  hot  tears  gathered  in  their  eyes  and  trickled  down  their 
cheeks,  and  the  cry  for  mercy  sobbed  forth  from  their  souls. 
And  they  felt  it — Christ  accepted  their  penance  and  for- 
gave them  that  very  moment  and  embraced  them  in  mercy 
and  love.  This  is  Christ  as  the  Saviour  of  sinners,  and  this 
story  of  the  Gospel  describes  the  Catholic  priesthood  in  its 
purposes  and  in  its  sublimest  functions.  What  Christ  began 
here  on  earth  that  self-same  work  the  priest  is  to  continue 
for  all  times,  and  therefore  the  priest  is  called  "another 
Christ"  for  his  generation. 

The  priest  indeed  is  a  man  like  the  rest  of  men,  frail  and 
faultful,  with  needs  and  affections,  as  purely  human,  as  the 
least  of  men  is  subject  to  them.  He  remains  a  man,  a  child 
of  earth,  and  therefore  earthbound  in  spite  of  his  ordinations, 
and  he  will  remain  subject  to  his  human  nature  until  his 
bones  are  withered  in  death.  But  with  all  that  belongs  to 
human  nature  in  him,  there  is  superadded  through  his  ordi- 
nation a  grace,  a  dignity,  a  power  that  is  truly  divine.  And 
what  is  this  power,  this  dignity,  this  grace,  that  lifts  up  and 
elevates  this  human  being,  and  makes  him  more  worthy  of 
honor  and  reverence  than  an  angel  in  heaven?  St.  Francis 
was  wont  say,  if  he  were  to  meet  an  angel  and  a  priest  in 
company  he  would  first  pay  his  respects  to  the  priest  and  to 
the  angel  thereafter.    What  is  it  that  constitutes  the  Catholic 


Sister  M.  Mildred  Von  Hollen. 
March  19th,  1895;  +June  18th, 
1901 


Sister       M.       Theodora       Steichler 
(Anna),  August  25th,   1877 


Sister  M.    Felicia   Stegmaier    (Mag- 
dalen), July   31st,   1905 


Sister       M.       Marcella       Stegmaier 
Emilia),  March    27th,    1890 


Sister  M.  Rosalia  Kiesling  (Fran- 
ces), January  14th,  1879; 
^October  31st,   1922 


Sister      M.      Richardis      Bartodjiej. 
August    12th,    1904 


Sister   M.    Eulalia    Kceing    (Clara), 
January   1,    1895 


Sister  M.  Pachomia  Orzada 
(Mary),  February  12th,  1901; 
^August  30th,  1909 


184 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  185 

priesthood  and  makes  it  so  exalted  in  grace,  so  lofty  in  dignity, 
so  tremendous  in  power? 

The  priest  has  first  a  divine  sending  to  preach  the  word  of 
salvation,  the  word  by  which  alone  man  can  enter  into  life 
eternal.  To  the  priest  apply  the  words  which  Christ  ad- 
dressed to  His  apostles:  "All  power  is  given  to  Me  in  heaven 
and  on  earth,  and  so  as  the  Father  has  sent  Me  so  I  also  send 
you.  Go  out  and  preach.  He  who  hears  you  hears  Me,  and 
he  who  despises  you  despises  Me.  He  who  believes  and  is 
baptised  shall  be  saved;  he  who  does  not  believe  shall  be 
condemned."  This  is  the  divine  force  behind  the  preaching 
of  the  lowliest  priest.  The  world  may  scorn  him  as  uiv 
learned,  uncultured  and  uncouth;  his  speech  may  be  con' 
temptible,  as  they  said  of  St.  Paul;  his  doctrine  may  appear 
as  utter  folly  to  the  wisdom  of  this  world,  yet  his  word  is 
beyond  question  the  doctrine  of  salvation,  it  is  the  word  of 
God  and  contains  the  power  of  God,  efficient  to  bring  about 
the  salvation  of  human  souls.  The  priest  can  say  with  Christ, 
the  doctrine  I  preach  to  you  is  not  mine,  but  the  doctrine  of 
Him  who  sent  me;  it  is  the  word  of  truth,  the  truth  that  shall 
make  you  free,  the  truth  that  shall  lead  you  to  the  liberty  of 
the  children  of  God,  the  truth  that  shall  conquer  the  world, 
that  shall  prevail  forever  against  the  powers  of  darkness,  that 
shall  sound  on  and  on  from  age  to  age  till  heaven  and  earth 
shall  pass  away,  till  the  veil  shall  be  drawn  aside  and  we  shall 
see  the  same  truth,  no  longer  as  in  a  mirror  and  in  a  riddle, 
but  face  to  face  in  God  Himself. 

Our  world  of  today  is  being  overrun  with  the  most  pernici' 
ous  errors  more  and  more  each  day.  Men's  opinions,  men's 
changing  sentiments  are  their  religion;  the  wild  demands  of 
their  passion  are  their  morality;  material  gain  and  their  own 
selfish  interests  are  the  only  rule  of  conscience  they  will 


186  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

acknowledge.  Life  itself  has  lost  its  meaning  for  countless 
many.  They  may  not  profess  it  in  words,  but  they  live  it 
practically  every  day.  That  doctrine  of  rankest  materialism, 
which  is  expressed  in  Holy  Writ  II  Book  of  Wisdom,  where 
we  read:  we  are  born  of  nothing,  and  when  we  are  dead  we 
shall  be  as  if  we  had  not  been,  and  therefore,  let  us  enjoy  life 
while  it  lasts,  let  us  pluck  the  roses  ere  they  wither,  let  us 
use  the  creatures  as  in  youth,  and  let  no  man  go  without  his 
part  in  luxury.  Man  is  no  more  than  the  beast,  he  has  no 
destiny  beyond  this  earthly  scene.  With  death  all  ends! 
Therefore  have  your  fun;  the  lower,  the  more  beastly,  the 
better.  Give  scope  to  every  passion  until  they  are  surfeited 
with  every  lust,  deny  yourself  nothing,  you  live  only  once, 
and  therefore,  get  out  of  life  what  you  can. 

The  Catholic  priest  stands  in  the  midst  of  these  errors  and 
proclaims  with  loud  and  unfaltering  voice  the  true  meaning 
of  life;  he  tells  you  in  the  great  words  of  St.  Paul,  that  this 
life  is  not  all.  He  says,  for  we  know,  that  when  this  earthly 
house  of  habitation,  this  body,  is  dissolved,  in  death,  we 
have  a  dwelling  with  God,  a  house  not  built  with  hands, 
eternal  in  heaven.  He  tells  you  that  there  is  a  law  of  life  for 
every  man  and  woman;  a  law  given  by  the  Creator  to  which 
every  man  must  be  subject.  He  tells  you,  that  we  are  respon' 
sible  to  our  God  for  every  action  of  our  mortal  lives,  that  He 
will  take  us  into  judgment,  and  will  mete  out  to  us  punish' 
ment  or  reward  according  to  our  deserts. 

This  has  been  the  work  of  those  twelve  children  from  St. 
Boniface  School  grown  to  youth  and  ordained  to  the  service 
of  the  sanctuary.  They  exercise  this  ministry  of  the  word  of 
salvation.  What  an  influence  for  good,  for  correctness  of 
life,  for  righteousness  of  action  their  spoken  word  has  been 
is  known  to  God  alone,  who  reads  the  souls  of  men  and 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  187 

knows  the  secret  history  of  their  lives.  It  is  certain  they 
have  sowed  the  seed  of  God  with  an  open  and  generous 
hand,  with  sincere  intention,  not  to  earn  the  world's  ap' 
plause,  but  to  benefit  mankind,  and  though,  as  the  sower  of 
the  Gospel,  the  greater  portion  of  the  seed  went  lost,  fell  on 
stony,  barren  soil,  yet  a  deal  of  it  has  fallen  on  fruitful 
ground,  and  sprung  up  to  bear  immortal  fruit  for  the  heaven 
of  God. 

Greater  still  and  more  divine  the  grace,  the  dignity,  the 
power  of  the  priesthood  appears,  when  he  acts  in  his  office 
as  the  judge  of  God's  own  cause,  when  he  hears  confessions 
and  absolves  men  of  their  sins  in  the  stead  of  God.  When 
Christ  said  to  the  man  sick  with  the  palsy,  thy  sins  are  for- 
given thee,  the  Pharasees  said  to  one  another:  how  can  this 
man  forgive  sins;  who  can  forgive  sins  but  God  alone?  That 
same  expression  of  doubt  and  amazement  we  hear  from  the 
world  today,  how  can  priests,  mere  men  as  they  are,  forgive 
sins?  Christ  proved  to  these  doubting  Pharasees,  that  it  was 
just  as  easy  for  Him  to  forgive  sins,  as  to  heal  men  of  their 
infirmities  by  one  word  of  His  mouth.  Because  He  was 
God  Himself  and  the  fulness  of  divine  power  was  in  Him. 

That  He  should  delegate  this  divine  power  to  men,  should 
commission  them  to  exercise  a  prerogative  that  belongs  ex- 
clusively  to  God  is  indeed  a  matter  for  eternal  wonder,  a 
thing  that  must  astonish  us  without  end.  Nevertheless,  it  is 
a  fact.  Christ  invested  His  apostles  and  with  them  all  the 
priests,  that  should  follow  after,  with  power  to  forgive  sins. 
He  said  to  them:  "Whose  sins  you  shall  forgive  they  are 
forgiven,  whose  sins  you  shall  retain  they  are  retained/' 
These  words  are  direct  and  plain  as  human  language  can 
deliver  them.  God  here  abdicated  His  rights  in  favor  of 
man.    The  sin,  the  terrible  offense  done  to  Him,  the  offense 


188  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

which  angered  Him  so  immensely  that  He  created  an  eternal 
hell  as  fit  punishment  for  it;  this  offense,  which  the  Son  of 
God  could  expiate  only  by  His  crucifixion,  this  sin  is  now 
forgiven  by  word  from  the  mouth  of  the  priest.  The  priest 
says  the  words  of  absolution  over  the  penitent  sinner,  and 
then  His  guilt  is  completely  cancelled;  God  relaxes  in  His 
justice  and  extends  the  hand  of  forgiveness  to  that  sinner. 
No  matter  what  his  wickedness  may  have  been.  O,  the  sac- 
rament of  penance,  where  the  priest  acts  as  a  gentle  judge  of 
mercy  in  the  stead  of  an  offended  and  righteously  angered 
God,  is  certainly  one  of  the  greatest  benefits  our  holy  religion 
presents  to  us.  It  is  the  anchor  of  our  hope,  it  is  our  sole 
refuge  after  we  have  sinned,  and  we  must  all  admit,  we 
would  have  to  give  over  to  despair,  we  would  have  to  give 
up  our  thoughts  of  heaven,  if  we  did  not  have  this  sacrament. 

What  must  be  the  reward  of  those  faithful  nuns  who,  by 
their  good  example,  have  led  their  charges  in  the  light  of 
God's  grace,  there  to  find  such  a  happy  vocation?  Think  of 
the  comfort  and  strength  these  ordained  pupils  have  brought 
to  souls  by  their  ministrations!  Numberless  they  have  re- 
deemed from  death  and  restored  to  life;  they  have  reclaimed 
countless  from  the  very  jaws  of  hell!  God  can  judge,  the 
power  of  a  good  example  which  has  lead  such  a  contingent 
to  join  His  army. 

We  hail  as  heroes  and  benefactors  the  men  who  have 
fought  our  wars,  who  have  freed  the  nations  from  oppres- 
sion and  servitude,  who  have  restored  peace  and  harmony  to 
the  world.  But  no  less  great,  no  less  a  benefactor  of  man- 
kind is  every  Catholic  priest  through  the  sacrament  of  pen- 
nance  which  he  administers.  And  if  such  be  the  case,  what 
title  of  greatness  should  be  bestowed  upon  those  who  have 
been  instrumental  in  making  effective  God's  grace  within 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  189 

the  soul  of  youth,  to  nurture  it  until  it  has  indelibly  sealed 
itself  upon  the  soul  of  the  ordained?  Sisters  of  Saint  Francis 
and  priests  of  St.  Boniface  Parish,  you  have  done  indeed  a 
great  work  for  the  furtherance  of  the  kingdom  of  God  upon 
earth.  Doubtless  your  reward  will  be  in  accord  with  the 
efforts  you  have  spent  as  well  as  the  results  you  have 
attained. 

But  the  grandest  dignity  of  the  priest,  his  most  exalted 
power,  is  exercised  when  he  stands  at  the  altar,  a  mediator 
between  heaven  and  earth  and  celebrates  Holy  Mass.  Holy 
Mass  is  the  sublimest  act  of  our  religion;  it  is  the  offering  that 
must  forever  ascend  in  an  odor  of  sweetness  before  the  face 
of  God  in  heaven;  Holy  Mass  is  the  actual  repetition  of  the 
bloody  sacrifice  of  Mount  Calvary,  because  in  Holy  Mass  we 
have  the  same  victim  as  was  there  and  the  same  high-priest, 
namely  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.  In  Holy  Mass  the  priest  is 
not  only  an  agent  of  Christ,  nor  is  he  a  mere  representative 
of  Christ,  no!  He  assumes  the  very  person  of  Christ,  he 
speaks  and  acts  as  if  he  were  Christ  Himself.  He  bows  over 
bread  and  wine  and  he  pronounces  the  same  words  Christ 
uttered  at  the  Last  Supper:  "This  is  my  body,  this  is  the 
chalice  of  my  blood,"  and  as  the  words  tremble  from  his  lips, 
the  miracle  is  performed.  Heaven  bends  down  to  earth  and 
the  great  Son  of  God,  at  the  bidding  of  the  priest,  leaves  His 
throne  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father,  and  lies  in  the  hands 
of  the  priest,  as  the  lamb,  slain  once  more  for  the  redemption 
of  the  world. 

Holy  Mass  is  called  the  fountain  head  and  the  full  stream 
of  all  graces  that  inundate  our  world.  In  it  there  flows  the 
double  stream  to  make  glad  the  city  of  God,  the  crimson 
stream  of  the  blood  of  Christ  in  daily  ablution  of  our  ever 
repeated  sins;  and  the  golden  stream  of  His  merits  to  sanctify 


190  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

human  souls  and  to  make  them  worthy  of  heaven.  A  saint 
has  said,  through  Holy  Mass  the  world  is  preserved  from 
destruction.  God  would  have  struck  the  world  and  de- 
stroyed  it  long  ago  on  account  of  our  many  and  terrible  sins. 
But  whenever  God  stretches  forth  His  arm  of  punishment  in 
anger  He  sees  His  well-beloved  Son  lying  on  the  altar,  as 
deeply  humbled  as  when  he  was  born  in  the  stable  at  Beth- 
lehem, pleading  for  mercy.  Then  the  Father  must  draw  back 
his  arm  of  vengeance,  He  cannot  chastise  a  world  which  His 
Son  loves  so  much.  Therefore,  blessings  and  favors  rain 
down  on  us  again.  Holy  Mass  is  the  faithful's  sacrifice,  their 
offering  that  they  make  to  God.  The  priest  is  their  repre- 
sentative. His  hands  are  consecrated,  his  fingers  alone  are 
allowed  to  touch  the  body  and  blood  of  our  Lord,  but  he 
offers  Him  in  sacrifice  for  them  and  in  their  name. 

When  they  attend  Holy  Mass  they  take  part  in  a  divine 
action.  They,  through  the  priest,  as  it  were,  take  Jesus  into 
their  hands  and  present  Him  to  the  Father  in  heaven  as  their 
offering  of  adoration  and  praise  and  thanksgiving  and  above 
all  of  atonement  for  sin.  In  return,  through  the  hands  of  the 
priest  grace  and  mercy  and  all  heavenly  gifts  flow  down  upon 
their  souls.  This  indeed  is  the  sublimest  dignity  of  the 
priest.  At  the  altar  the  priest  is  truly  the  minister  of  God 
and  the  dispenser  of  the  mysteries  of  Christ,  who  daily  re- 
peats and  makes  new  the  great  sacrifice  of  Calvary,  that  has 
redeemed  the  world  and  has  brought  us  our  salvation. 

There  can  be  no  question  but  what  the  Catholic  priest 
holds  the  most  exalted  position  that  mortal  man  can  occupy. 
He  is  a  greater  benefactor  of  mankind,  than  the  world  will 
ever  realise,  he  is  "another  Christ,"  a  saviour  to  the  genera- 
tion in  which  he  lives.  The  nurturing  of  the  vocation  of  a 
"call  to  Christ"  is  certainly  one  of  the  greatest  accomplish- 


OUR  CHILDREN  IN  RELIGION  191 

ments  of  the  St.  Boniface  School.  It  is,  however,  not  the 
only  one.  For  while  we  boast  of  the  many  vocations  God 
has  been  pleased  to  instill  within  the  hearts  of  our  school 
children,  we  are  likewise  impressed  with  the  thousands  of 
children  who  have  developed  into  learned  and  successful 
business  men  and  women  and  who  form  a  very  integral  part 
of  our  party  politic.  These  men  and  women  have  also  been 
an  influence  for  good,  primarily,  because  of  their  religious 
education.  For  if  one  is  faithful  to  God,  the  implication 
necessarily  is  that  he  is  upright  and  honest  with  his  fellow 
man.  Christ's  scriptural  expression:  "Thou  shalt  love  thy 
neighbor  as  thyself"  is,  after  all,  preceded  by  the  text:  "Thou 
shalt  love  the  Lord  with  thy  whole  heart,  and  with  thy 
whole  soul,  and  with  thy  whole  mind."  We  may  deduct 
from  the  place  that  this  latter  quoted  text  occupies  in  sacred 
scripture  that  it  is  of  paramount  importance.  Deduction, 
however,  may  at  times  be  incorrect.  Our  God  evidently  did 
not  want  any  argument  about  the  matter  and  so  he  explicitly 
states  that  it  is  "the  first  and  greatest  commandment." 

The  supreme  sacrifice  of  life  itself  of  the  priests  and  sister 
hoods  indicate  their  love  of  God.  Their  success,  we  are  in' 
clined  to  believe,  is  so  singularly  marked  because  of  their 
devotion  to  the  Ideal.  Being  true  to  God  must  perforce  mv 
press  itself  upon  their  fellowman.  Therein  we  have  the 
secret  of  success  in  all  parochial  education,  "the  inculcation 
of  the  great  truth,"  the  subservience  to  the  Creator,  our 
last  end.  Thus  we  have  the  entire  system  and  thought  of 
religious  education  promulgating  the  norm  of  morality.  The 
effect  for  good  of  such  a  system  the  foregoing  lines  have 
modestly  proclaimed. 


192  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


CLERGY,  FORMER  BOYS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE 

Photos  Not  Obtainable 

Reverends  Jansen,  Wiefenbach  and  J.  Marino 


NUNS,  FORMER  GIRLS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE 
Photos  Not  Obtainable 

Sister  M.  Augustine  Fricker  (Johanna),  July  17th, 

1869. 
Sister  M.  Eva  Schmidt,  May  31st,  1892. 
Sister  M.  Samuel  Czaplinski,  August  12th,  1915. 
Sister  M.  Ernestine  Mats  (Helen),  August  10th, 

1892. 
Sister  M.  Gaudina  Korthals  (Mary),  lune  12th, 

1911. 
Sister  M.  Engelburga  Korthals  (Theresa),  April 

1st,  1919. 
Sister  M.  Dorothea  Mats  (Theresa),  March  28th, 

1889. 
Sister  M.  Bonosa  Demes  (Eleanore),  August  2nd, 

1893,  *March  30th,  1900. 
Sister  M.  Maxentia  Kuliwinski,  Aug.  12th,  1903. 
Sister  M.  Angeline  Zappen  (Margaret) . 
Sister  M.  Ann  Zappen  (Sophie). 


FORMER  CURATES  AT  ST.  BONIFACE 
Photos  Not  Obtainable 

Reverends  Joseph  Rempe,  Kloecker,  Henry  Hagen, 

John  Liebrich,  Joseph  Hagenmeyer,  Jackl,  Anthony 

Berger,  Hagemann,  Hermes,  John  J.  Steines,  Fred 

J.  Bergs,  Jack  Linden,  John  Reuland 


MARRIED  LADIES'  SODALITY 

he  societies  of  married  ladies  have  more  than 
ordinary  significance.  This  fact  must  have 
been  known  to  the  first  appointed  pastor, 
since  the  Mutter  Gottes-Verein  was  estarr 
lished  March  25th,  1865,  on  the  feast  of  the 
Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary. 
It  was  on  this  day  that  the  angel  sent  by  God 
singled  out  Mary  to  become  the  Mother  of 
His  Son.  "Hail  full  of  grace,  the  Lord  is  with  thee,  .  .  . 
Thou  shalt  bring  forth  a  Son.  .  .  .  He  shall  be  great,  and 
shall  be  called  the  Son  of  the  Most  High."  God,  who,  com- 
mands all  nature,  makes  proposals  to  Mary.  The  ambassador 
of  heaven  makes  known  his  mission;  Mary  listens,  she  accepts. 
This  is  the  significance  of  the  feast  day.  It  opens  to  us  the 
whole  purpose  of  the  society:  "Be  subservient  to  the  will 
of  God."  Was  it  not  a  wonderful  ideal  to  hold  before  the 
mothers?  Is  it  any  wonder  that  their  sons  and  daughters 
were  dutiful  children?  The  old  story  is:  "The  apple  never 
falls  far  away  from  the  tree."  If  the  parents  are  good,  the 
children  will  be  good. 

The  Mutter  Gottes-Verein  had  their  staff  of  officers  but 
their  treasurer  for  many  years  very  satisfactorily  led  the 
women.  Mrs.  Splitthof  was  a  woman  of  extraordinary  ability 
and  she  was  fearless  in  the  display  of  that  attribute.  The  fol- 
lowing incident  occurred  during  Father  Ever's  time.  Father 
Evers  was  to  announce  a  meeting  of  the  Mutter  Gottes-Ver- 
ein  on  Ascension  Thursday,  their  communion  day,  for  the 
following  week.    By  some  misfortune  he  forgot  to  make  the 

193 


194  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

announcement.  After  he  had  walked  into  the  sacristy  Mrs. 
Splitthof  walked  to  the  communion  rail,  faced  the  women 
and  made  the  following  announcement:  "Naechsten  Don- 
nerstag  ist  Versamlung  fuer  den  Mutter  Gottes-Verein."  At 
another  time  this  good  pious  soul,  saying  prayers  for  various 
intentions  after  the  reception  of  Holy  Communion,  began  to 
announce  a  final  intention:  "Lasset  uns  beten  fuer,"  she 
paused  for  a  moment,  since  she  was  at  a  loss  what  intention 
to  announce  as  the  sixth,  and  then  added:  "den  Heiligen 
Gheist."  There  are  many  little  incidents  that  could  be  re- 
called here  but  we  will  limit  ourselves  to  only  one  more. 
Arrangement  had  been  made  to  have  Archbishop  Feehan 
come  for  confirmation.  Mrs.  Splitthof  at  once  offered 
her  services  as  portress.  She,  however,  was  to  act  as 
sponsor  for  the  children,  and  it  was  essential  that  she  be  in 
church.  The  Fathers  endeavored  to  convince  her  that  she 
could  do  just  one  or  the  other.  Finally,  after  lengthy  discus- 
sion she  prevailed  upon  the  Fathers  her  ability  to  do  both. 
She  said:  "First,  I  will  admit  the  Archbishop  and  then  one  of 
the  Fathers  can  announce  in  church — make  room  for  Mrs. 
Splitthof,  and  I  shall  have  no  difficulty  of  passing  by  the 
crowd/1    Needless  to  say,  she  was  portress  and  sponsor. 

These  pleasant  recollections  make  us  mindful  only  of  the 
wonderful  personality  of  Mrs.  Splitthof.  She  was  such  a 
sincere  good  soul  that  not  one  of  her  actions  could  be  taken 
amiss.  In  all  her  work  she  had  the  highest  purpose  in  view. 
The  woman  who  had  so  many  interests  was,  after  all,  a 
woman  who  was  at  heart  a  recluse.  Her  heart  was  not  at- 
tached to  things  of  earth.  When  she  felt  her  end  draw  near 
she  arranged  her  own  funeral  in  every  detail.  The  ladies 
were  to  carry  the  candles  one  of  which  was  to  be  extinguished 
after  the  libera.     Fathers  Evers,  Suerth  and  Rempe  were 


MARRIED  LADIES'  SODALITY  195 

designated  for  service  in  the  sanctuary;  celebrant,  deacon  and 
subdeacon  respectively. 

The  dues  in  all  of  the  ladies'  sodalities  were  ten  cents  a 
month.  At  death  the  Mutter  Gottes-Verein  furnishes  a  ma' 
chine  and  has  a  Requiem  High  Mass  sung  for  the  deceased. 
The  Armen  Seelen-Verein  had  similar  advantages  in  its  day. 
The  Rosenkranz-Verein,  at  death,  presents  the  heirs  with 
twenty-five  dollars. 

The  RosenkranZ'Verein  featured  the  mysteries  of  the 
rosary,  and  grouped  their  members  in  accord  with  its  mys- 
teries. One  woman  would  control  a  group  of  fifteen  mem- 
bers representing  the  fifteen  decades  of  the  rosary.  Each 
group  of  fifteen  would  have  its  leader,  prefect  or  president. 
The  object  of  this  society  is  a  prayerful  one  with,  however, 
the  many  advantageous  and  good  fortunes  that  come  to  a 
pious  mother. 

Another  organisation  was  formed  by  Reverend  Albert 
Evers  known  as  the  Christliche  Muetter-Verein.  This  organ- 
ization was  founded  to  accommodate  the  younger  element  of 
married  women. 

They  at  first  met  in  the  school  hall  but  after  a  few  meetings 
it  was  considered  advisable  to  hold  their  meetings  in  the 
church.  The  church,  after  all,  was  creative  of  a  better 
atmosphere  for  the  conferences,  which  were  the  features  of 
this  organization. 

It  is  well  worthy  of  mention  that  since  1886  Mrs.  Anna 
Weidemann,  still  a  member  of  St.  Boniface  Parish  has  acted 
the  roll  of  secretary  for  both  the  Mutter  Gottes-Verein  and 
the  Rosenkranz-Verein.  Mrs.  Anna  Weidemann  is  a  remark- 
able woman  and  mother  of  a  religious  in  the  order  of  St. 
Francis,  Sister  M.  Charles.  For  some  time  her  health  has 
been  failing;  indeed,  she  was  never  careful  about  her  health 


196 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


when  duty  demanded  her  presence.  To  her  activity  of  body 
there  is  added  a  ceaseless  activity  of  mind.  She  has  the  cares 
of  the  societies,  and  she  attends  to  them  as  only  a  conscien' 
tious  officer  would.  Her  forty  years  of  service  in  the  societies 
merits  the  comment  of  the  scriptural  text:  "Well  done,  thou 
good  and  faithful  servant." 


ST.  VINCENT  DE  PAUL  SOCIETY 

he  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  Society  is  an  organize 
tion,  whose  object  is  the  relief  of  poverty 
and  suffering.  Originally  founded  in  Paris, 
France,  it  has  spread  over  the  whole  Catho' 
lie  world  and  has  branches  in  almost  every 
parish.  These  branches  take  care  only  of 
the  poor  in  their  parishes  or  neighborhood. 
The  first  published  report  of  the  society 
occurs  in  the  February  Pfarrbote  of  1899:  "In  the  past  year 
thirty  families  were  taken  care  of;  the  committee  made  167 
visits;  employment  was  secured  for  many;  eight  children  were 
placed  in  Catholic  schools;  three  persons  were  taken  care  of 
in  hospitals;  carfare  was  given  to  one  family  of  four  persons 
to  send  them  back  to  their  home  town  Farmersville,  111. 
Since  the  foundation  of  this  conference  in  our  parish  a  little 
over  two  years  ago,  $1,023.70  was  expended  in  the  support 
of  widows,  orphans  and  the  poor  in  general.  Rev.  A.  Evers, 
director;  Theo.  Mieling,  president;  Peter  Staab,  secretary; 
Jacob  Schmitt,  treasurer.  Active  members:  Jacob  Nelles, 
Jacob  Dernbach,  Wm.  Nelles,  Bernard  Mieling,  John  P. 
Brod,  Adam  Paikowski,  Alvin  Meschke,  Alphons  Donner, 
Andrew  Guschal,  August  Winter,  Bernard  Dettlaff ." 

While  the  work  has  continued  without  interruption  every 
year,  the  reports  were  not  always  published.  Published  re 
ports  were  made  only  when  they  contained  new  names. 

In  1914  the  following  officers  are  mentioned:  Rev.  Albert 
Evers,  Paul  Lausch,  H.  V.  Waskowski,  And.  Traub,  John 

197 


198  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

Fensterle,  Alb.  Orzada,  Ad.  Schiminski,  L.  Honikel,  F.  Witt, 
N.  Herbst,  J.  Puets,  Ig.  Baelouscek. 

In  1917  the  new  names  are:  George  Behrendt,  Liborius 
Schneider,  Eduard  Gewerth,  Joseph  Kerts,  Peter  Meiser,  Jr., 
James  A.  Kuns,  Rudolph  Schweigel,  August  Behnke.  The 
larger  contributions  during  1917  were  from  the  following: 
Mrs.  Welch,  $54.50;  Rev.  Evers,  $24.00;  Lafayette  Council, 
$50.00;  this  was  the  third  gift  of  this  amount  from  the 
Lafayette  Council. 

In  1918  the  Lafayette  Council  gave  $50.00  and  Mrs, 
Catherine  Dernbach,  $50.00. 

In  1922  Mrs.  Mary  Welch  gave  $50.00;  John  Doerr,  new 
member. 

In  1923  the  names  of  George  Spenner,  and  Joseph  Gros- 
chel  appear;  Mrs.  Welch  gave  $50.00. 

In  1924  and  1925  Mrs.  Welch  gave  $100.00. 

The  largest  part  of  the  revenues  are  derived  from  the  poor 
box  in  the  church;  the  collections  which  are  taken  up  by  the 
members  in  the  church  during  the  Easter  season,  and  from 
occasional  raffles  and  entertainments. 


THE  HOLY  NAME  SOCIETY 

his  society  was  organized  by  Father  Evers 
shortly  before  he  resigned  the  pastorate  of 
St.  Eoniface  Church.  Since  it  is  a  nationally 
known  organization  its  mission  can  best  be 
expressed  by  incorporating  herewith  the 
words  of  Reverend  Thomas  M.  Schwertner, 
O.  P.,  an  authority  in  Holy  Name  activities. 
The  address  of  Father  Schwertner  was  made 
in  October,  1917,  and  will  be  quoted  verbatim. 

"Never,  perhaps,  in  the  history  of  the  world,  unless  it  be 
in  the  days  when  our  Blessed  Saviour  Himself  trod  the  earth, 
have  men  lived  in  more  stirring  and  momentous  times  than 
the  actual  present.  The  great  international  war  is  changing 
the  face  of  the  world,  and  with  the  change  vast  possibilities 
for  good  are  thrown  in  our  way.  Scores  of  the  social  ideas 
and  economic  fetiches  which  men  have  sworn  by  in  the  past 
are  being  ruthlessly  destroyed.  In  the  turmoil  of  the  hour 
there  are  many  who  attempt  to  lay  unholy  hands  upon  that 
most  sacred  inheritance  of  the  past  which  Jesus  Christ  prom- 
ised would  endure  to  the  end  of  time.  But  whatever  else 
may  change,  we  are  certain  that  not  so  much  as  one  jot  or 
title  of  the  revealed  religion  of  Christ  will  go  down  in  the 
present  maelstrom.  And  not  only  shall  religion  remain  un- 
touched as  far  as  its  essentials  are  concerned,  but  it  is  true 
that  the  opportunities  for  its  increase  and  deepening  will  be 
multiplied  by  the  present  breaking-up  of  the  social  order. 

"Everywhere  in  the  world  today  we  see  signs  of  awakening 
to  a  deeper  religious  sense,  if  not  an  actual  return  to  Cathol- 
icism.    Abroad,  the  men  who  have  lived  and  fought  in  the 

199 


200  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

trenches  have  returned  to  their  homes — when  they  DID  re' 
turn  with  a  consciousness  that  life  had  taken  on  a  new  mean' 
ing  for  them.  Men  who  have  looked  death  in  the  face  for 
days  together  can  never  be  quite  the  same  afterwards.  They 
have  learned  not  only  to  recognize  the  dignity  of  life,  but  to 
realize  that  there  is  a  beyond.  By  hard  schooling  they  have 
been  taught,  even  if  only  in  a  human  way,  the  sublimity  of 
the  Catholic  doctrine  of  unselfishness  and  sacrifice.  In  the 
face  of  appalling  dangers  they  have  learned  the  efficacy  of 
prayer,  just  as  the  infidel  does  who  in  a  storm  at  sea  falls 
involuntarily  upon  his  knees.  Those  who  have  not  the  true 
faith,  or  have  lost  it,  have  been  struck  dumb  with  awe  at  the 
sight  of  the  courage,  patience  and  fortitude  of  the  Catholic 
who  holds  fast  to  his  religion  and  its  practices.  No  wonder, 
then,  that  there  has  been  a  deepening  and  broadening  of  the 
religious  sense  of  all  European  peoples.  No  wonder  that  in 
every  country  the  churches  are  crowded  with  worshippers — 
the  mothers,  wives,  sisters  and  sweethearts  of  the  men  who 
are  "out  there"  fighting — who  are  lifting  up  arms  to  heaven 
in  prayer  for  their  brave  men,  and  for  the  courage  and 
strength  to  do  their  own  part  in  sustaining  them. 

"In  our  own  country  this  renascence  of  religion  is  visible  in 
a  threefold  manner: 

"First  of  all,  we  find  a  widespread  feeling  of  bigotry  abroad, 
which  is  nothing  else  than  a  futile  attempt  of  the  forces  ar 
rayed  against  Catholicism  to  counteract  its  rapidly  growing 
influence.  Men  who  are  aware  that  the  Catholic  Church  is 
making  rapid  strides  in  our  midst,  realizing  their  inability  to 
hinder  her  onward  progress,  hate  her,  and  in  their  hatred 
seek  every  opportunity  of  placing  her  in  a  false  light, 
representing  her  as  the  enemy  of  our  national  ideals  and 
institutions. 


HOLY  NAME  SOCIETY  201 

"In  the  second  place,  there  is  a  large  contingent  of  our 
people  who,  whilst  not  professing  the  faith,  still  realise  that 
the  Church  is  doing  a  beneficent  work  in  the  land.  Indiffer- 
entists  to  all  religions  though  they  may  be,  they  are  broad- 
minded  enough  to  admit  that  far  from  being  a  menace  to  our 
country,  the  Catholic  Church,  by  the  inoculation  of  the  vir 
tues  which  make  a  people  great,  is  one  of  its  best  assets. 

"In  the  third  place,  there  is  noticeable  in  the  ranks  of 
professing  Catholics  a  marked  deepening  of  piety.  The  fact 
that  so  many  of  our  men  are  under  arms  today  has  made  the 
undemonstrative  piety  of  our  Catholic  women  break  forth  in 
unwonted  fashion.  Besides  the  execllent  assistance  they  are 
rendering  in  a  material  way,  our  Catholic  women  feel  that 
they  are  not  doing  their  whole  duty  by  their  country  unless 
they  storm  the  gates  of  heaven  by  prayer,  not  only  for  their 
own  well  beloved  ones  who  may  be  fighting  under  the  colors, 
but  also  for  the  righteous  cause  for  which  they  are  engaged. 
In  the  fields  and  cantonments  our  men  are  making  a  splendid 
display  of  their  faith,  and  the  urgent  cry  for  more  Catholic 
chaplains  is  a  proof  that  they  feel  the  need  of  the  support  of 
their  religion  in  the  hours  of  dreadful  crisis  through  which 
they  realise  they  must  pass,  sooner  or  later.  Only  those 
priests  who  have  worked  in  populous  centers  where  recruit' 
ing  is  large  can  give  a  fair  estimate  of  the  number  of  back' 
sliders  and  renegades  who,  previous  to  donning  the  khaki 
uniform,  have  thought  it  well  to  make  their  peace  with  God. 
There  is  scarcely  a  Catholic  soldier  who  does  not  carry  the 
beads  with  him,  or  wear  upon  his  breast  the  medal  or  scapular 
of  our  Blessed  Lady.  Clean  of  heart,  mind  and  life  as  most 
of  our  Catholic  men  are,  they  have  joined  the  forces  with  the 
firm  determination  of  trying  to  show  forth  spiritualising  ef' 
fects  of  Catholicsm,  without  relinquishing  entirely  their  dc 


202  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

sire  and  privilege  of  indulging  in  legitimate  entertainment  and 
recreation.  And  in  the  very  front  rank  of  our  Catholic  man' 
hood  on  the  battle  line  stand  the  Holy  Name  men,  who  be 
lieve  that  as  their  society  in  times  of  peace  has  been  the 
strong  bulwark  of  their  lives,  so.  too,  in  the  searching  hours 
of  conflict,  loneliness  and  absence  from  home,  will  it  prove  one 
of  their  main  supports,  helping  to  keep  their  hearts  stout. 

"If  so  many  of  our  soldier-Catholics,  as  also  those  who  for 
one  reason  or  another  have  been  left  behind,  recognise  in  the 
Holy  Name  Society  a  powerful  agency  for  good,  it  is  but 
formal  acknowledgment  of  the  fulfillment  of  the  high  hopes 
and  expectations  which  the  Church  herself  has  ever  had  with 
regard  to  the  Society.  Now,  what  does  the  Church  expect 
irom  the  Holy  Name  Society,  which  seven  hundred  years 
ago  was  established  by  the  direct  command  of  the  Vicar  of 
Christ  to  offset  evils  which  in  their  own  way  recall  some  of 
the  social  sores  from  which  contemporary  society  is  suffering? 

"First  of  all,  the  Holy  Name  Society  was  designed  as  a 
means  of  eliciting  from  the  hearts  of  Catholic  men  an  expres- 
sion of  their  firm  belief  in  the  Divinity  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
the  perenduring  nature  of  His  work.  We  think  it  is  safe 
to  say  that  there  are  few  Catholic  men  in  our  country  today 
who  entertain  for  so  much  as  one  moment  a  wilful  doubt  as  to 
the  Divinity  of  Christ.  By  His  miracles  and  His  works,  by 
the  ineffably  beautiful  example  of  His  life,  by  the  fulfillment 
of  all  the  prophecies,  by  His  resurrection  through  His  own 
power — all  of  which  are  sufficiently  proved  by  the  Scriptures 
and  have  been  made  sufficiently  familiar  to  Catholics 
through  the  preaching  of  the  Word  of  God — our  Catholic 
men  are  firmly  convinced  that  Christ  was,  as  He  claimed  to 
be,  the  "Son  of  the  Living  God.11  But  this  firm  belief  has  suf- 
fered to  some  extent  in  its  expression,  owing  to  the  atmos- 


HOLY  NAME  SOCIETY  203 

phere  of  worldliness  and  materialism  which  is  abroad,  and 
the  bitter  struggle  for  existence  which  is  the  ordinary  lot  of 
man.  By  calling  upon  our  men  to  stand  boldly  forth  as  the 
champion  of  Christ,  His  specially  chosen  defenders,  the 
doughty  figures  who  see  it  in  every  blow  directed  at  the 
Church  a  blow  aimed  directly  at  the  Christ,  the  Holy  Name 
Society  has  succeeded  in  enlivening  the  faith  of  our  men. 
There  is  nothing  which  a  normal  man  so  much  loves  as  a 
fight.  He  likes  to  feel  that  he  is  trusted,  and  that  he  has 
been  especially  picked  out  to  stand  forth  as  a  champion  of  a 
cause  which,  whilst  surpassingly  beautiful  in  itself,  is  through 
bigotry  and  hatred  maligned  and  assailed.  If  men  love  to 
fight  for  their  country,  the  history  of  the  world  proves  that 
they  also  like  to  fight  for  their  religion.  And  it  is  precisely 
this  martial  spirit,  this  readiness  and  willingness  to  take 
Christ's  side,  to  defend  Christ's  Church  which  to  the  aver' 
age  red'blooded  Catholic  constitutes  the  most  powerful  ap' 
peal  of  the  Holy  Name  Society. 

"And  when  men  have  assembled  in  defense  of  a  cause  it  is 
easy  to  discipline  them.  The  hundreds  and  thousands  of 
men  who  have  been  called  to  the  colors  differ  on  as  many 
thousand  matters,  but  when  it  is  a  question  of  conforming  to 
military  rules  in  order  to  insure  military  success,  they  are 
ready  to  undergo  any  hardships,  to  make  any  personal  sacri' 
fices.  And  so,  too,  when  our  Catholic  men  are  enrolled  in 
the  Holy  Name  Society  to  defend  and  vindicate  Christ's 
honor  and  divinity,  it  is  easy  to  bring  them  regularly  to  the 
Sacraments,  since  this  is,  as  it  were,  a  part  of  the  military 
duty  which  they  must  render  the  'Incomparable  Captain'  of 
their  souls.  It  is  a  marvel  to  the  world  how  easily  the  Holy 
Name  Society  draws  thousands  upon  thousands  of  men 
monthly  to  the  Communion  rails;  and  the  blessings  resulting 


204  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

from  it  are  noticeable,  not  only  in  the  home  and  the  work- 
shop, but  in  civic  life  as  well.  Now,  it  would  be  impossible, 
humanly  speaking,  to  lead  such  countless  numbers  of  men 
to  the  Eucharistic  table  monthly  unless  the  spark  of  faith 
in  Christ  smouldering  in  each  individual  soul  had  been  fanned 
into  a  powerful  flame.  This  awakening  of  faith  in  Christ, 
and  love  for  Him  and  for  His  Church,  by  means  of  the  Holy 
Name  Society,  has  made  it  possible  for  the  life  of  grace  to 
grow  through  the  operation  of  the  Sacraments. 

"It  is  for  this  lofty  reason,  then,  that  the  Holy  Name  So- 
ciety  has  a  noble  and  lofty  mission  to  perform  in  our  country 
today.  If  faith  is  always  necessary  to  salvation,  its  manifesta' 
tion  today  is  doubly  necessary,  not  only  because  these  are 
trying  times,  but  also  because  our  age  has  once  more  turned 
its  face  towards  the  eternal  hills,  seeking  to  find  Him  who 
stands  thereon,  preaching  words  of  life  and  light  and  right- 
eousness. Many,  indeed,  in  search  of  faith  have  turned  in 
the  wrong  direction,  or  have  listened  to  the  voice  of  those 
who,  profiting  by  the  need  which  men  feel  for  religion  today, 
have  for  their  own  reasons  or  perhaps  advantage  preached 
false  doctrines.  But  the  Holy  Name  Society,  with  its  legions 
of  men,  has  turned  directly  to  the  Christ,  promising  that  it 
will  accept  and  defend  His  Word,  which  cannot  pass  away, 
and  practice  His  religion,  in  which  there  is  salvation. " 

The  Society  for  the  past  nine  years  was  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Reverend  F.  X.  Harnischmacher.  Since  a  month  ago 
because  of  the  transfer  of  their  spiritual  director  the  new  ap- 
pointment placed  Reverend  Jos.  Gehrig  in  command.  There 
is  no  question  that  the  Holy  Name  Society's  season  of  pros- 
perity has  dawned.  That  year  by  year  this  nationally  known 
organization  increases  its  membership  and  realizes  to  a  greater 
extent  the  purpose  of  its  institution. 


THE  YOUNG  LADIES"  SODALITY 

ery  early  in  the  administrations  of  Reverend 
Clement  Venn  a  young  ladies'  sodality  was 
founded  and  known  as  "St.  Rose  Young 
Ladies'  Sodality."  During  the  time  of  Father 
Venn  the  young  ladies  were  assembled  in 
church  one  Sunday  afternoon  of  every 
month  to  listen  to  the  practical  counsel  of 
their  spiritual  advisor.  They  were  united 
for  that  purpose  only  and  had  no  social  object.  This  organ- 
ization continued  to  exist  until  May  29th,  1898,  when  the 
society  was  reorganized  under  the  name  of  "Marianische 
Jungfrauen  Sodalitaet." 

The  new  organization  had  as  its  prime  mover  Father 
Meyers.  He  was  very  much  interested  in  his  charge  and 
wrote  to  the  old  country  for  the  program  of  reception.  On 
the  eventful  night  of  May  29th,  1898,  the  young  ladies  were 
solemnly  received  into  the  new  organization.  The  young 
ladies  who  met  in  the  school,  dressed  in  white,  and  with 
candle  in  their  hand  awaited  the  coming  of  their  Spiritual 
Director  to  bid  them  proceed  to  the  church.  At  the  appointed 
time  Rev.  Albert  Evers,  Rev.  F.  A.  Rempe,  and  Reverend  J. 
Meyers  preceded  by  the  cross  bearer  and  some  fifty  altar  boys 
in  van-colored  cassocks  entered  the  school  and  the  line  of 
march,  including  the  candidates  for  the  Young  Ladies'  Sodal- 
ity, proceeded  to  wend  its  way  to  the  church.  Then  fol- 
lowed the  solemn  reception.  Because  only  one  copy  of  this 
reception  remains  extant  and  because  of  the  lasting  impression 

205 


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YOUNG  LADIES1  SODALITY  207 

it  made  upon  the  young  ladies  we  herewith  insert  the  order 
of  program  in  full. 

1.  Anrufung  des  HI.  Geistes. 

Es  wird  gesungen:  "Veni  Creator  Spiritus,"  oder  "Komm  Schoep- 
fer  Geist,"  komm  kehre  ein  in  unser  Herz,  wir  sind  ja  dein.  Be- 
reichere  mit  deiner  Gnad,  uns,  die  dein  wort  erschaffen  hat." 

Praeses:  Komm  HI.  Geist,  erfuelle  die  Herzen  Deiner  Glaubigen 
und  entzuende  in  ihnen  das  Feuer  Deiner  Liebe;  der  Du  die  Voelker 
aller  Zungen  zur  Einigkeit  des  Glaubens  versammelt  hast. 

V.:    Sende  uns  Deinen  Geist  und  alles  wird  neu  geschaffen. 

R.:     Und  Du  wirst  das  Antlitz  der  Erde  erneuern. 

Last  uns  Beten:  O  Gott,  der  Du  die  Herzen  der  Glaubigen  durch 
die  Erleuchtung  des  HI.  Geistes  gelehrt  hast,  gib  dass  wir  in  demsel- 
ben  Geiste  das  Rechte  erkennen  und  Seines  Trostes  uns  allezeit 
erfreuen  moegen.     Durch  Christum  unsern  Herrn. 

R.:     Amen. 

2.  Anrede. 

3.  Medallienweihe: 

V.:     Adjutorium  nostrum  in  nomine  Domine. 

R.:     Qui  fecit  coelum  et  terram. 

V.:     Domine  exaudi  orationem  meam. 

R.:     Et  clamor  meus  ad  te  veniat. 

V.:   Dominus  vobiscum.     Rt.:     Et  cum  spiritu  tuo. 

Ormeus:  Omnipotens  sempiterne  Deus,  qui  sanctorum  tuorum 
effigies  sculpi  aut  pingi  non  reproba,  ut  quoties  illas  oculis  corporis 
intuemur,  toties  eorum  actus  et  sanctitatem  ad  imitandem  memoriae 
oculus  meditemur;  has  quasumus  imagines,  in  memoriam  beatissimae 
virginis  Mariae,  matres  Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi  adaptatas,  bene- 
dicere  et  sanctificare  digne  is,  et  praesta  ut  quicumque  corram  illis 
beatissimam  Virginem  supliciter  colere  et  honorare  studerit,  illius 
meritis  obtentu  a  te  gratiam  in  praesenti  et  aeternam  gloriam  ob- 
tineat  in  futurum.     Per  Christum  Dominum  nostrum.     R.:     Amen. 

Deinde  Aspergat  aqua  benedicta. 

Waehrend  dessen  wird  ein  Marienlied  gesungen,  und  werden  die 
Kerzen  angezuendet  und  den  Aufzunehmenden  eingehaendigt. 


208  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

4.  Nach  der  Medallienweihe  wendet  sich  der  Praeses  zu  den  Auf' 
zunehmenden.  Die  Praefectin  tritt  vor  und  spricht  zu  ihm:  Hoch' 
wuerdiger  Vater!  beseelt  von  dem  Wunsche,  in  der  Andacht  zu 
Maria  zuzunehmen  und  auch  andere  dazu  aufzumuntern,  bitten  in 
unsere  Congregation  aufgenommen  zu  werden  folgende  Aspirantin- 
nen:  N.N. 

Praeses:  Mit  der  groesten  Freude  vernehme  ich  euren  Wunsch. 
Um  uns  aber  von  dessen  Aufrichtigkeit  vollstaendig  zu  ueberzeugen, 
so  antwortet  mit  deutlicher  Stimme  auf  meine  Fragen-  Verlanget 
ihr  wirklich  in  die  Congregation  der  allerseligsten  Jungfrau  Maria 
aufgenommen  zu  werden,  um  in  derselben  dem  dienste  unsers  Herrn 
Jesu  Christi  und  Seiner  glorreichen  Mutter  euch  zu  weihen? 

Antw.:    Ja,  wir  verlangen  es  von  ganzem  Herzen. 

Pr. :  Wollt  ihr  euch  aufrichtig  bemuehen  in  der  Congregation 
durch  euere  Andacht  den  Tugendeifer,  durch  euere  Friedfertigkeit 
die  gegenseitige  Liebe,  durch  euer  gutes  Beispiel  die  Erbauung  des 
Naechsten  zu  beforden? 

Antw. :    Ja,  dies  wollen  wir. 

Pr. :  Versprechet  ihr  die  Regeln  und  Satzungen  der  Congregation 
wie  ihr  sie  habt  kennen  gelehrnt,  gewissenhaft  zu  befolgen? 

Antw.:    Ja,  das  versprechen  wir. 

Pr.:  Und  wie  lange  wollt  ihr  euch  durch  dieses  Versprechen  bin' 
den? 

Antw.:    Wir  wollen  es  halten  auf  immer. 

Pr.:  Nun  denn  da  ihr  ernstlich  entschlossen  seid  Gott  und  der 
Allerseligsten  Jungfrau  in  dieser  Congregation  zu  dienen,  no  nehme 
ich  euch  gerne  in  die  Zahl  der  Mitglieder  auf.  Da  dieser  Verein 
den  Zweck  hat  auf  eine  ganz  besondere  Weise  die  allerseligste  Jung' 
frau  und  Gottesmutter  zu  ehren  und  nach  wahrer,  gruendlicher 
Tugend  zu  streben  so  leget  nun  feierlich  im  angesichte  der  Congre- 
gation eure  Versprechung  zu  den  Fuessen  Mariens  nieder:  Erneuert 
das  Taufgeluebde,  das  ihr  damahls  gemacht,  als  ihr  durch  die  HI. 
Taufe  Kinder  Gottes  und  der  Kirche  wurdet;  betet  dann  den  Wei- 
heackt,  wodurch  ihr  euch  jetz  der  hi.  Gottesmutter  als  Kinder  ueber- 
gebet. 

Erneuert  das  Taufgeluebte:  Eine  der  Aufzunehmenden  betet  laut 
vor:  die  andern  beten  still  mit:    O  Gott,  ich  danke  Dir  das  Du  mich 


YOUNG  LADIES'  SODALITY  209 

durch  die  hi.  Taufe  su  einem  Kinde  Deiner  Gnade  aufgenommen, 
und  Dich  Gnaedig  herab  gelassen  hast,  einen  Bund  mit  mir  einzu- 
gehen.  Es  tut  mir  leid,  das  ich  diesen  Bund  bis-her  so  schlecht  ge- 
hallten  habe.  Von  nun  an  will  ich  mit  Deiner  Gnade  besser  darauf 
acht  geben,  darum  erneuere  ich  ihn  hier  vor  Dir  und  vor  dem  ganzen 
Himmel:  Ich  wiedersage  dem  Teufel  und  aller  seinen  Pracht  und 
alien  seinen  Werken. 

Das  Glaubensbekenntniss  follgt.     Ich  Glaube,  u.  s.  w. 

Ich  glaube  fest,  unbezweifelt,  und  ohne  Ausnahme  alles,  was  die 
HI.  Roemischkatholische  Kirche  lehrt  und  zu  glauben  vorstellt,  weil 
Christus  der  Herr  ihr  den  HI.  Geist  gegeben  und  versprochen  hat 
ewig  bei  ihr  zu  bleiben.  Diesen  wahren,  katholischen,  alleinselig- 
machden  Glauben  will  ich  mit  der  Gnade  Gottes  immer  unwandel- 
bar  und  unverletzt  halten  bis  an  mein  seliges  Ende.  Auch  will  ich, 
so  viel  in  mir  ist,  alien  Fleiss  anwenden,  dass  dieser  Glaube  von 
meinem  Untergebenen,  oder  von  denen,  die  meiner  Obsorge  anver- 
traut  sind,  so  gehalten  und  befolgt  werde. 

All  zusammen  laut  und  langsam:  Dieses  verspreche,  gelobe  und 
beschwoere  ich  so  wahr  mir  Gott  helfe  und  Sein  hi.  Evangelium. 

Praeses:     Betet  nun  den  Weiheact: 

Heilige  Maria,  Mutter  Gottes  and  Jungfrau!  Ich  erwaehle  Dich 
heute,  zu  meiner  Gebieterin,  Beschuetzerin  und  Fuersprecherin,  und 
nehme  mir  fest  vor,  Dich  nie  zu  verlassen,  nie  etwas  gegen  Sie  zu 
sagen,  oder  zu  thun,  noch  zuzlassen,  dass  von  meinen  Untergebenen, 
je  etwas  wieder  Deine  Ehre  geschehe.  Ich  bitte  dich  daher,  nimm 
mich  an  zu  deiner  Dienerin  auf  ewig,  stehe  mir  bei  in  meinen  hand- 
lungen,  und  verlass  mich  nicht  in  der  Stunde  meines  Todes.  Amen. 
(Die  Kertzen  werden  geloescht  und  abgegeben.) 

5.  Aufnahme.  Der  Praeses  reicht  jeder  Enzelnen  die  geweihte 
Medaille  dar,  die  ihr  dann  als  bald  die  Praefectin  umhaengt,  und 
spricht  dabei:  Accipe  signum,  etc.  (Darauf  spricht  er  zu  ihnen 
gewendet:  Zur  groessern  Ehre  Gottes,  zur  verherrlichung  der  aller' 
seligsten  Jungfrau  Maria,  zum  geistlichen  Wohle  dieser  Congrega- 
tion und  kraft  der  Gewalt  welche  mir  der  h.  Vater  anvertraut  hat, 
nehme  ich  euch  auf  in  die  Zahl  der  Mitglieder  unserer  Congregation 
welche  unter  dem  Titel  N.N.  hierselbst  errichtet  ist,  und  mache  euch 
theilhaftig  aller  Gnaden  und  Vortheile,  aller  Priviligien  und  Ab- 


210  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

laesse,  welche  der  H.  Stuhl  verliehen  hat.  Im  Namen  des  Vaters 
und  des  Sohnes  und  des  H.  Geistes.  Amen.  Jesus  Christus  nehme 
euch  auf  zu  Mitgliedern  der  Congregation  und  zu  Seinen  Dienerin- 
nen.  Er  gebe  euch  Zeit  zum  guten  Leben,  gelegenheit  um  gutes 
zu  wirken,  standthaftigt  um  im  guten  zu  beharren  und  zur  Erbschaft 
des  ewigen  lebens  zur  erlangen;  und  wie  die  schwesterliche  Liebe 
auch  heute  geistig  vereinigt  hier  auf  Erden,  so  moege  Seine  goett- 
liche  Guete,  welche  die  Urheberin  und  Foerderin  der  H.  Liebe  ist, 
uns  mit  alien  Seinen  Getreuen  vereinigen  im  Himmel.  Durch  den- 
selben  Jesum  Christum  unsern  Herrn.  Amen. 
6.   Schluss.     Magnificat. 


A  Group  at  the  Young  Ladies'  Sodality  Picnic,  1914 


Top  Row:  Anna  Rink,  Nic.  Rauly,  May  Stroh,  H.  Jarding,  Susie  Dauss, 
J.  Zierski,  A.  Korthals,  Cath.  Dauss. 

Second  Row:  Father  Adams,  Anna  Buntrock.  C.  Fiedler,  Alma  Donv 
browski,  M.  Korthals,  L.  Schommer,  M.  Goebel.  Agnes  Radzinski,  P.  Spenner. 

Third  Row:  P.  Kneppers,  C.  Korthals,  J.  Skokna,  Tillie  Pawletzki,  Lot- 
tie Dombrowski,  C.  Koob. 

Bottom  Row:  Tony  Kunza.  C.  Zappen.  J.  Migalla.  E.  Hesser.  Ed.  Rice, 
M.  Zblewski,  N.  Jarding,  F.   Schroeder. 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


211 


The  following  were  admitted  into  the 

Elizabeth  Schlitt 
Mary  Frey 
Elizabeth  Demes 
Mary  Demes 
Magdaline  Hasterok 
Catherine  Tichelaar 
Anna  Fensterle 
Rosalia  Marino 


Julia  Dormeger 
Rosa  Orzada 
Catherine  Dernbach 
Mary  Teschke 
Clotilda  Scholl 
Rose  Kiesling 
Gertrude  Mees 
Catherine  Mees 


Mathilda  Grzegowski  Mary  Behrendt 
Florentine  Burkowski   Anna  Malkowski 
Rose  Barski 


Mary  Stengel 
Frances  Golly 
Bertha  Graf 
Anna  Liskowski 
Helen  Schabelski 
Helen  Wruck 
Augusta  Kowalski 
Rose  Behrendt 
Rose  Zopping 
Mary  Skorezewski 
Louise  Jolia 
Honoria  Weisgarber 
Catherine  Naber 


Anna  Stege 
Margaret  Brod 
Pauline  Duhra 
Anna  Pfister 
Adelaide  Tichelaar 
Martha  Manchnik 
Mary  Orzada 
Caroline  Mueller 
Rose  Bujok 
Mary  Jakobofski 
Teresa  Borlek 
Mary  Kugnefski 
Johanna  Kunkel 


society  at  that  time- 
Valeria  Bartodjiej 
Valeria  Vasielski 
Martha  Mollek 
Teresa  Schwarz 
Rose  Bauer 
Margareth  Braun 
Martha  Rominski 
Elizabeth  Uhlmann 
Anna  Koslik 
Emelia  Landkamer 
Martha  Pischke 
Mary  Kolle 
Frances  Behrendt 
Mary  Behrendt 
Patronilla  Kuegers 
Teresa  Schenke 
Margaret  Brod 
Elizabeth  Ellert 
Pauline  Krausse 
Margaret  Bortkowski 
Anna  Fiedler 
Margareth  Henning 
Bertha  Henning 


The  first  officers  of  this  newly  organized  society  were  Mar- 
garet Brod,  president;  Teresa  Schwarz;,  secretary;  Mary 
Orzada,  treasurer. 

One  little  incident  of  a  play  "Our  Lady  of  Lourdes"  must 
be  recalled  for  its  uniqueness.  The  blessed  Virgin  was  to 
appear  on  the  stage  during  one  of  the  scenes.  To  bring  about 
the  effect  of  apparition  Father  Meyer  put  Her  statue  on  a 
little  cart  and  at  the  appointed  time  drew  the  cart  by  string 
across  the  stage.     We  must  credit,  however,  Father  Meyer 


Eleanor  Meyer,  Secretary  of  Young 
Ladies'   Sodality 


Florence  Krause,   President,  Young 
Ladies*  Sodality 


Helen  Schommer,  Treasurer,  Younj 
Ladies"  Sodality 


Loretta    Schommer,    Past   President, 
Young  Ladies'  Sodality 


212 


YOUNG  LADIES'  SODALITY  213 

for  the  interest  he  displayed  in  all  Young  Ladies  affairs.  He 
would  paint  scenery,  be  the  stage  carpenter,  and  engage  in 
any  other  useful  occupation  that  was  to  aid  the  good  of  the 
cause.  He  was  a  faithful,  good  and  pious  man  and  the  size  of 
his  sodality  demonstrates  the  cooperation  he  received. 

Six  years  later,  Father  Joseph  Adams  controlled  the  desti- 
nies of  the  young  folks  at  St.  Boniface.  He  was  a  good  mixer 
and  a  jolly  entertainer  and  above  all  loved  the  great  outdoors. 
The  picnic  photo  of  1914  shows  the  jolly  group  of  merry 
makers  with  Father  Joseph  Adams  right  on  the  job. 

The  Young  Ladies  were  indeed  always  fortunate  in  the 
selection  of  their  officers.  Their  presidents  were  real  honest' 
to-goodness  workers.  A  fine  group  of  characters  is  sketched 
for  us  in  the  work  that  they  acomplished: — Gertrude  Mees, 
Constance  Korthals,  Anna  Kriese,  Elizabeth  Hesser,  Loretta 
Schommer,  Mabel  Krejci,  and  Florence  Krause.  All  of  these 
young  ladies1  names  ring  in  our  ears  with  the  music  of  grand 
success.  They  bring  before  us  a  glittering,  colorful  pageant. 
To  be  enshrined  in  history  as  the  symbol  of  work  is  no  mean 
fate.  If  we  know  nothing  more  of  them  than  their  success, 
that  impression  alone  created  deserves  our  lasting  gratitude. 
But  these  gracious  young  ladies  bearing  their  generous  gift 
of  capability  to  their  sodalists,  were  no  mere  figure-heads  of 
the  sodality,  no  mere  picture  ladies,  with  a  glory  built  upon 
the  accomplishment  of  a  day  and  passing  away  with  it.  Their 
gold  and  precious  stones  were  symbols  of  truer  riches,  riches 
of  the  heart  and  mind.  Father  Joseph  Gehrig  conducts  their 
meeting  and  conferences  in  their  spacious  and  beautiful 
wicker  furnished  clubroom.  There  is  every  indication  that 
the  Sodality  under  his  guidance  will  continue  to  increase  its 
membership  and  rise  very  probably  to  the  height  of  its 
accomplishment. 


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214 


ST.  RAPHAEL  YOUNG  MEN'S  SODALITY 

he  society  of  youth  in  the  church  is  looked 
upon  as  a  form  of  higher  education.  Many 
cannot  avail  themselves  of  academic  or  col' 
legiate  education  for  whom  the  society  is  a 
substitute  as  far,  at  least,  as  moral  training  is 
concerned.  Even  those,  whom  fortune  of 
father  and  mother  have  blessed  by  the  op' 
portunity  of  higher  studies  can  derive  untold 
benefits  with  association  of  good  moral  youth.  Education 
must  not  make  youth  clever  alone,  but  good.  What  the 
world  needs  and  wants  is  men,  grown  in  purity  and  mature 
in  intellect,  rightly  trained  men,  capable  of  assuming  posi- 
tions in  life  which  calls  for  moral  courage.  Moulded,  solid, 
virile  men  our  societies  are  equipped  to  produce.  Feminine 
men  with  silly  ideas,  a  giddy  character,  and  unmanly  attitude, 
who  may  be  led  to  and  fro,  cannot  survive  in  a  well  organ' 
ized  young  men's  society.  The  main  thing  after  all  is  the 
formation  of  character  by  moulding  the  will  of  men,  who  will 
remain  as  firm  in  the  world  as  the  everlasting  oaks  in  the 
forest. 

Let  it  be  remembered  that  right  doing  far  exceeds  in  merit 
right  thinking.  We  want  men  who  will  love  the  truth, 
uphold  the  truth,  and  sometimes  amidst  the  contempt  and  sar' 
casm  of  poor  mortals;  men  of  conviction  and  obedient  to 
conscience,  and  men  imbued  with  high  and  legitimate  ambi' 
tion  and  not  left  to  squander  in  self  gratification  their  heredi- 
tary or  acquired  means.  We  want  the  societies  to  form  men 
who  will  shape  the  opinion,  sentiments  and  conduct  of  others. 

215 


216  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

Societies  give  us  staunch  leaders  in  good,  in  social  life,  who 
will  condemn  lax  models.  What  is  needed  in  the  world  is 
moral  courage,  strict  honesty  not  purchased  or  sold  influence. 
The  purity  of  youth,  profound  respect  of  God's  law,  rever- 
ence for  others  is  what  we  want  and  what  we  will  obtain 
through  our  societies. 

This  was  the  conviction  of  the  leaders  in  the  church  one- 
half  century  ago.  Therefore,  so  many  church  organizations 
sprung  into  existence.  Young  men  societies  were  founded 
with  all  the  other  church  societies  almost  as  immediately  as 
the  parish  was  established.  It  was  considered  a  necessary 
adjunct  to  the  equipment  of  a  rightly  conducted  parish.  So- 
cieties here  and  everywhere  naturally  kept  the  flock  together. 
It  made  for  unity  and  strength. 

The  Saint  Bonifacius  Juenglings-Verein  was  the  first  or- 
ganized young  men's  society  in  St.  Boniface  parish.  The 
date  of  organization  is  not  known,  but  it  can  be  safely  pre- 
sumed that  the  organization  had  its  being  during  Father 
Clement  Venn's  time.  The  year  can  be  quite  accurately 
conjectured  to  have  been  1875.  Father  Venn  had  formed 
a  number  of  societies  during  his  time  and  all  of  them  date 
back  to  almost  the  beginning  of  his  administrations  in  the 
parish.  For  this  reason,  it  is  conjectured,  that  the  first  young 
men's  society  was  established  about  the  time  as  were  the 
others.  There  have  been  no  records  available  to  aid  us  in 
describing  their  work.  The  first  data  of  young  men's  activ- 
ity comes  to  us  under  the  caption  of  St.  Raphael  Young 
Men's  Sodality. 

The  St.  Raphael  Young  Men's  Sodality  was  organized  by 
the  Reverend  Francis  A.  Rempe  in  the  year  1897.  The  or- 
ganizers as  recorded  were:  Julius  Weske,  Frank  Stahl,  Paul 
Juhnke,    August    Aissen,    Joseph    Redlinger,    John    Groh, 


ST.  RAPHAEL  YOUNG  MEN'S  SODALITY  217 

William  Schmidt,  and  Paul  Schwartz.  All  the  aforemen- 
tioned men  worked  in  their  spare  time  building  and  furnish- 
ing the  club  room.  The  favored  form  of  sports  was 
checkers,  chess  and  billiards.  Athletics  had  not  at  this  early 
date  made  much  an  inroad  upon  the  amusement  of  youth. 
They,  it  seems,  were  content  with  the  great  Napoleonic  game 
of  chess.  Many  a  game  was  played  of  an  hour's  duration. 
In  fact,  the  club  became  the  rendevouz  of  chess  and  checker 
sharks  one  of  whom,  Bruno  A.  Csaikowski,  has  attained 
fame,  numbering  not  only  among  the  members  of  the  Chi- 
cago City  Chess  League,  but  among  its  officers.  He  is  their 
secretary  and  treasurer.  Sometime  ago,  an  occasion  arose  to 
address  this  gentleman  by  mail  for  the  purpose  of  discover- 
ing data  of  the  early  St.  Raphael's  Sodality.  Part  of  the 
reply  can  be  given  here:  "In  regards  to  your  letter  I  must 
admit  that  I  certainly  enjoyed  my  boyhood  days  at  St.  Boni- 
face. All  credit  goes  to  Monsignor  Francis  A.  Rempe  for 
the  success  I  thus  far  attained.  He  it  was  who  taught  me  my 
first  moves  in  chess.  The  game  has  since  then  been  my  favor' 
ite  pastime  and  recreation.  I  am  pleased  to  call,  so  as  to  be- 
come better  acquainted  with  your  wishes  and  desires.  Will 
give  you  a  ring  for  an  appointment.  Assuring  you  of  my 
heartiest  support  and  best  wishes,  I  remain,  yours  very  truly, 
(Signed)  Bruno  A.  Czaikowski." 

It  indeed  was  a  great  satisfaction  to  receive  a  letter  of  such 
content  from  a  former  member  of  St.  Raphael's  Sodality. 
Twenty-three  years  had  passed,  but  the  days  of  youth  had 
not  been  forgotten.  What  an  instrument  for  good  are  the 
church  societies!  Father  Rempe  also  was  engaged  in  his 
days  in  giving  a  popular  course  in  philosophy  to  the  young 
men.  Paul  Juhnke  excelled  in  this  field  of  endeavor  and 
learning.     He  was  always  anxious  to  know  about  the  ab- 


218  THE  AXXALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

stract.  His  brother,  Leo  Juhnke,  had  varied  occupations. 
Blessed  with  a  good  voice  he  became  engaged  in  choir  activ- 
ity. That,  of  course,  says  a  great  deal,  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  it  was  a  mixed  choir.  But  his  girl  friends  of  yesterday 
all  agreed  that  he  was  a  bashful  lover.  Today,  he  is  a  well 
known  physician  on  the  north  side. 

"Major  Andre"  was  one  of  the  many  stage  productions  of 
the  time.  It  was  the  one  which  commanded  the  most  atten- 
tion, not  alone  in  the  parish  in  the  demand  for  a  second  and 
third  performance,  but  also  on  the  outside  wTith  requests 
for  performance.  John  GrzybowTski  excelled  as  Lord  Clinton. 
John  was  the  leading  man  in  most  of  the  dramas  of  his  day. 
Judging  from  the  applause  that  greeted  him  in  those  days  his 
presentation  was  always  a  pronounced  "hit."  The  best 
words  of  praise  to  John  and  the  cast  of  characters  in  the  play 
"Major  Andre"  is  to  say:  "He  was  a  particularly  brilliant 
gem  in  a  diadem  of  gems."  Because  of  the  decided  hit  this 
selection  made  we  have,  for  history  sake,  thought  well  to 
preserve  a  record  of  the  entire  cast  in  costume,  and  therefore, 
have  inserted  the  photo.  At  that  time  the  boys  probably 
never  thought  they  were  making  history,  but  they  were. 
Herein  is  contained  the  moral:  "What  is  worth  doing  at  all 
is  worth  doing  well."  Refreshments  were  sold  during  the 
intermissions,  and  the  informant  added,  at  any  other  time. 
The  waiters  on  these  occasions,  members  of  the  Sodality, 
were  on  a  commission  basis  of  ten  per  cent  on  the  dollar. 
Their  recollection  is  that  business  was  good. 

There  had  been  more  or  less  oposition  at  that  time  to 
dances,  but  the  boys  having  made  good  in  dramatics,  desired 
very  much  to  hold  a  dance.  After  convincing  Father  F.  A. 
Rempe  that  it  was  a  perfectly  legitimate  form  of  amusement, 
consent  was  obtained.     Julius  Weske  was  prefect,  or  presi- 


ST.  RAPHAEL  YOUNG  MEN'S  SODALITY  219 

dent,  at  the  time.  William  Schmidt  was  recording  secretary 
and  placed  in  charge  of  the  arrangements.  We  talk  about 
our  boys  of  today  as  "sheiks,"  but  these  boys  of  yesterday 
were  real  "ritzy."  The  dance  was  held  in  Schoenhofen's 
Hall.  A  canopy  was  raised  from  the  sidewalk's  curb  to  the 
entrance.  A  beautiful  green  "runner"  covered  the  stairs 
from  the  first  to  the  third  floors.  Palms,  procured  from  the 
Angel  Guardian  florist,  ornamented  the  hall.  It  was  a 
veritable  palm  garden.  The  approximate  receipts  were  three 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  net.  It  was  a  very  exclusive  invita- 
tion affair  with  entrance  fee  at  fifty  cents  a  couple.  Refresh' 
ments  were  served  and  at  no  time  did  the  party  lack  in  inter- 
est and  enjoyment.  It  may  appropriately  be  added  that  the 
assembly  dispersed  at  four  in  the  morning,  the  water  mark 
for  the  musicians.  After  that  time,  they  charged  a  dollar 
extra. 

While  at  these  parties  they  served  beer,  they  were  very 
orderly  conducted.  After  all,  the  abuse  of  anything  is  ob- 
jectionable. To  do  away  with  the  thing  itself  because  of  the 
abuse  is  misapplied  logic  and  could  not  be  enforced  in  every 
instance.  Moral  training  which  teaches  the  adherence  and 
respect  of  right  and  the  deterance  from  all  that  is  wrong, 
naturally  speaking,  is  good  sound  logic.  Self-control  is  master 
of  the  entire  situation  which  these  early  settlers  surely  always 
manifested. 

In  the  year  1906  the  Sodality  was  under  leadership  of  Leo 
A.  Schuenemann.  Leo  was  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  first 
parishioners  active  in  the  building  program  of  St.  Boniface. 
He,  like  his  father,  was  enthused  in  all  church  affairs.  Be- 
sides, his  interest  in  church  affairs,  he  possessed  ideals  of 
indoor  sportsmanship.  These  he  experimented  with  in  the 
St.  Raphael  Sodality.    One  of  his  first  moves  was  the  installa- 


220 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


tion  of  a  bowling  alley  in  the  basement  of  the  school.  It  was 
the  only  alley  about  the  premises  but  it  was  kept  hot  by  an 
almost  twentyfour  hours  day  of  play.  After  the  season  of 
regular  bowling  had  reached  its  end  a  few  weeks  of  tourna' 


St.  Raphael  Young  Men's  Sodality 
Trophies 

ment  was  inaugurated.  Within  a  few  years'  time  the  six 
choice  bowlers  of  the  St.  Raphael's  Sodality  won  the  cham' 
pionship  of  the  Diocesan  Union  Bowling  League.  The 
players  named  on  the  pennant  are:    William  Schmidt,  Henry 


ST.  RAPHAEL  YOUNG  MEN'S  SODALITY  221 

Lenter,  Andrew  Korthals,  M.  Gets,  Albert  Sprengel  and 
Leo  A.  Schuenemann,  captain. 

Mention  of  the  Diocesan  Union  makes  a  word  of  descrip- 
tion imperative.  The  Diocesan  Union  was  founded  in  Saint 
Francis  Assissi  parish  by  the  Reverend  Fathers  Goldschmidt 
and  Haarth.  The  purpose  of  the  organisation  was  the  affilia- 
tion of  all  young  men  societies.  Yearly  conventions  were 
held  at  one  of  the  parishes  affiliated  with  the  Diocesan  Union. 
The  parishes  selected  for  these  conventions  would  become 
the  host  and  all  expenses  would  be  met  by  them.  The  idea 
was  a  very  good  one.  It  brought  the  young  men  into  contact 
with  one  another  from  all  over  the  city.  Their  acquaintance 
and  association  brought  about  an  enlightened  and  broad 
vision.  It  was  really  an  education  in  itself.  Besides  the 
yearly  conventions  they  went  camping  during  the  summer 
months  and  the  members  of  these  camping  tours  still  recall 
with  joy  their  many  happy  experiences.  The  founders  of 
the  Diocesan  Union  can  be  congratulated  since  the  spirit  it 
instilled  into  the  boys  still  lives  with  them  although  the  organ- 
isation is  no  longer  in  existence. 

The  St.  Raphael  old  timers  under  Leo's  realm  can  recall 
the  wonderful  dramatic  efforts  that  were  made.  It  is  indeed 
surprising  that  from  the  talented  dramatic  exhibitions  which 
were  a  regular  occurrence,  no  one  was  ever  lured  because 
of  success  attained  to  the  bright  lights  of  Hollywood.  The 
surprise  develops  into  another  form  of  exclamation  because 
of  the  sudden  betrothal  of  the  cast  of  characters.  Quite 
natural,  indeed,  for  the  young  maidens  to  become  enraptured 
with  the  manly  splendor  of  the  debutant.  Leo  and  his  group 
of  officers  embarked  on  the  sea  of  matrimony  with  only 
pleasing  memories  to  recall  of  the  days  of  St.  Raphael  Y.  M. 
S.     But  those  memories  are  worth  while  since  it  actuated 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


Jack  Reisel 


Edward    Witt 


these  old  timers  to  act  on  a  committee  for  the  arrangement  of 
the  Diamond  Jubilee  of  the  parish. 

John  L.  Reisel  became  the  successor  of  Leo  A.  Schuene- 
mann.  A  crucial  period  in  the  organization  had  arrived. 
The  cooperation  so  much  in  evidence  during  Leo's  time  de- 
veloped into  a  real  follow  the  leader  when  two  by  two  and 
three  by  three  the  members  had  taken  to  themselves  the 
obligation  of  founding  a  home.  The  membership  had 
dwindled  down  considerably.  President  John  L.  Reisel  and 
his  staff  of  officers  had  to  exert  every  effort  and  energy  in 
soliciting  new  members. 

The  membership  had  dwindled  down  to  just  thirteen  in 
1916  when  Joseph  Skokna  was  elected  to  the  presidency. 
These  thirteen  had  vowed  to  keep  up  the  work  of  John  L. 
Reisel  in  an  effort  to  increase  the  membership  of  the  club. 
Within  two  years  their  efforts  were  crowned  with  success. 
The  society  had  increased  its  membership  to  fifty-five. 


ST.  RAPHAEL  YOUNG  MEN'S  SODALITY 


223 


4ifci 


Fred    Honikel 


Joseph  Brod 


During  the  years  of  1917  and  1918  Uncle  Sam  threatened 

to  play  havoc  with  the  Sodality.    A  number  of  young  men 

enlisted  in  the  military  service  of  the  country,  while  others 

were  drafted  to  serve  Uncle  Sam's  needs.     The  following 

members  joined  the  colors: 

Lieutenant  Rev,  Henry  Retziek,  Camp  Pike,  Arkansas,  8th 
Division,  Chaplain. 

John  Fensterle,  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  111.,  Co.  B,  344  Inf. 

Corporal  Mike  Laux,  Camp  Logan,  Houston,  Texas. 

Corporal  Alois  Wise,  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  111.,  Co.  A, 
344  Inf. 

Henry  Tocki,  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  111.,  Co.  M,  343  Inf. 

John  J.  Stieber,  Camp  Logan,  Houston,  Texas,  Medical  De- 
partment, Co.  129. 

Michael  Gabriel,  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  111.,  Co.  B,  344  Inf. 

Andrew  Freyewski,  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  111.,  Co.  B,  344 
Inf. 


224  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

Stanley  Plantin,  Fort  Crook,  Nebr.,  Co.  B,  344  Inf. 

Corp.  John  Hesser,  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  111.,  Co.  J,  343 
Inf. 

Charles  Schmitt,  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  111.,  Co.  N,  343 
Inf. 

John  Balousek,  Globe,  Arizona,  1 7  Cavalry,  Troop  K. 

Frank  Schwakowski,  Camp  Logan,  Houston,  Texas. 

Nicholas  J.  Downey,  Camp  Shelby,  Hattiesburg,  Miss.,  Hdq. 
Co.,  4th  F.  A. 

John  Gratia,  New  York,  N.  Y.,  1st  Section,  7th  Division, 
Navy. 

Frank  J.  Zick,  Presidio,  Cal.,  62nd  Regiment,  Battery  C. 

Mathias  Schons,  Camp  Devens,  Mass.,  Co.  B,  602  Eng. 
Bat.  3,  302  F.  A. 

Sergeant  Geo.  P.  Rauscher,  Training  Camp  Co.,  Jackson- 
ville, Fla. 

Sergeant  Carl  Krause,  Co.  L,  343  Inf.,  Camp  Grant,  Rock- 
ford, 111. 

Wm.  J.  Murphy,  Camp  Dodge,  De  Moines,  Iowa,  Base  Hos- 
pital, Unit  11. 

Joseph  Migalla,  Portland,  Maine,  Fort  Leavitt,  Co.  29,  C. 
A.  C. 

Andrew  Schruder,  Camp  Stuart,  Newport  News,  Virginia. 

Joseph  Skokna,  Jefferson  Barracks,  Camp  Fremont,  Cali- 
fornia. 

Henry  Jarding,  U.  S.  Naval  Training  Camp,  Puget  Sound, 
Washington. 

William  Kahnke,  enlisted  in  the  Navy. 

John  Arnoldi,  Camp  Wadsworth,  Spartanburg,  S.  C. 

Alfred  Stroh,  United  States  Naval  Reserve  Force. 

Carl  Bors,  Marines,  Paris  Island,  S.  C. 


ST.  RAPHAEL  YOUNG  MEN'S  SODALITY  225 


Frank  Migala 


Joseph   Becker 


Among  the  number  of  enlisted  boys  was  the  president, 
Joseph  Skokna.  The  club  gossip  in  the  June  Calendar,  1918, 
reads  as  follows:  "We  wish  to  announce  that  our  President, 
Joseph  Skokna  (popularly  known  as  'Scotty)  has  joined 
the  colors.  He  left  for  Jefferson  Barracks  on  April  26th, 
1918,  and  has  since  been  sent  to  Camp  Fremont,  California. 

"Scotty  became  a  member  of  the  Club  in  its  primitive  days, 
at  the  time  when  its  headquarters  were  nothing  but  a  respect- 
able 'hang  out.1  While  the  club  was  reorganized  practically 
every  year,  it  was  with  different  success.  Finally  in  Septeiri' 
ber,  1916,  when  all  hope  seemed  lost,  Scotty  stepped  into  the 
president's  chair.  He  was  a  man  of  action,  patient,  cautious, 
not  knowing  the  meaning  of  the  word  defeat.  Determined  to 
make  the  club  a  success,  he  let  nothing  interfere  with  that 
ambition,  and  he  surely  accomplished  his  purpose.  Never  in 
the  history  of  St.  Raphael's  Club  did  we  have  a  president 
who  succeeded  in  securing  the  cooperation  and  good  will  of 


226 


THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 


his  fellow-members  as  did  Scotty.  Enthusiastic  and  high- 
purposed,  he  inspired  others,  and  many  a  mother  has  been 
made  happy  by  the  knowledge  that  her  boy  was  spending 
most  of  his  spare  time  at  the  club,  enjoying  clean  and  healthy 
sports  in  safe  surroundings. 

"While  Scotty  has  left  us  the  spirit  aroused  by  him  will 
remain  with  us,  and  with  such  a  spirit  the  club  is  bound  to 


Anton  Kuma 


go  upward  and  forward.  We  know  that  Uncle  Sam  will 
have  no  more  loyal  soldier  than  our  Scotty.  Our  prayers 
follow  him  with  the  hope  that  he  may  come  back  to  us  soon, 
covered  with  glory,  and  as  proud  of  us  as  we  are  of  him. 

"Mr.  Anton  Kunza,  our  worthy  vice-president,  is  well 
qualified  to  head  the  club  during  the  absence  of  President 
Skokna.     Anton  is  still  one  of  the  pioneer  members  whose 


ST.  RAPHAEL  YOUNG  MEN'S  SODALITY  227 

active  work  in  the  past  makes  us  confident  that  he  will  keep 
up  the  present  high  standard  of  St.  Raphael's. " 

Anton  Kunza  was  a  real  fellow,  who  inspite  of  the  world 
war  made  prosperous  advances  for  the  St.  Raphael  Sodality. 
He  introduced  all  sorts  of  athletics.  Boxing  was  a  favorable 
winter  pastime.  An  account  of  a  sociable  bout  on  Monday, 
February  10th,  makes  known  the  contestants  and  the  cham- 
pion. '  'Goggles' '  and  Frank  He  welt  were  the  two  engaged 
in  the  battle  for  supremacy.  Two  rounds  were  sufficient  to 
send  "Goggles"  arcanim'  in  the  "milky  way."  Although  it 
was  said  that  he  had  a  horseshoe  in  his  glove,  he  found  no 
opportunity  to  make  use  of  it. 

During  the  summer  of  1919  the  St.  Raphaels  had  an  able 
nine  represent  them  in  the  field  of  national  sport.  They 
entered  the  National  Catholic  Baseball  League.  Every  play 
day  found  a  large  group  of  members  and  friends  of  St. 
Raphaels  rooting  for  their  home  team.  The  season  ended 
with  the  Raphaels  in  fifth  place. 

This  fifth  place  did  not  discourage  the  Raphaels  by  any 
means.  For  the  following  year  they  entered  with  the  hope 
of  carrying  away  the  pennant.  But  no  such  luck!  The  sea' 
son's  close  found  them  in  third  place. 

The  interest  in  the  national  sport  brought  about  an  almost 
unbelievable  increase  in  membership.  It  became  necessary 
to  enlarge  the  club  room.  The  renovating  of  the  club  room 
began  immediately  after  the  close  of  the  1920  baseball  sea- 
son.  After  weeks  of  work  the  members  had  a  fully  equipped 
gymnasium.  A  shower  room  was  also  installed  for  the  use 
of  the  members.  These  improvements  were  incentives  for 
prospective  members. 

The  nineteen  hundred  and  twenty-one  season  had  been 


Andrew     Kotlare,     Past     President, 
Young  Men's  Sodality 


Anthony   Schlieben,   Baseball  Man- 
ager, Young  Men's  Sodality 


Joseph     Cetner.     President,    Young 
Men's   Sodality 


228 


ST.  RAPHAEL  YOUNG  MENS  SODALITY  229 

ushered  in  with  great  pomp  and  glory.  More  enthusiasm 
was  displayed  this  year  than  ever  before.  The  many  new 
members  who  had  joined  gave  the  committee  a  large  choice 
of  selection.  The  following  team  was  selected:  C.  Stermer, 
captain;  H.  Barth,  J.  Fruga,  J.  Janowski,  J.  Kodowski,  B. 
Orzada,  P.  Palubecke,  B.  Simunich,  C.  Spera,  F.  Zeman. 
These  men  were  sent  on  the  field  to  make  history.  They  did. 
For  every  game  was  a  victory.  At  the  close  of  the  season, 
the  season  of  championship  games  accredited  them  with  the 
title  of  Champions.  They  received  trophies  from  the  Na' 
tional  Catholic  Athletic  Association  and  the  city. 

It  seemed  that  the  year  nineteen  hundred  and  twentyone 
had  capped  the  climax  for  the  following  year  lagged  in 
enthusiasm  and  interest.  Some  of  the  members  had  migrated 
to  other  parts  of  the  city  and  others  had  taken  to  themselves 
partners  for  life. 

For  practically  four  years  Anton  Kunsa  controlled  the  des' 
tinies  of  the  St.  Raphael's  and  and  in  his  hands  these  destinies 
rested  well.  Anton  was  a  power.  He  bent  himself  to  the 
task  of  building  up  the  society.  He  conquered  youth  and 
made  them  interested  and  enthused  in  the  Sodality's  welfare. 
He  who  knows  all  that  has  led  up  to  Anton  Kunsa's  con' 
quests  and  success  has  little  left  to  learn  of  human  annals. 
Tony  was  well  liked  and  respected  by  all.  Certainly  Anton 
Kunsa  has  always  stood  as  the  symbol  of  strength  for  his 
fellowmen.  No  wonder  that  his  faithful  followers  treasured 
his  words  and  example.  Through  four  years  of  strife  that 
our  nation  endured  during  Anton  Kunzia's  administration  of 
office,  he  endeavored  to  bring  about  in  his  own  way  peace 
and  harmony  on  earth.  Everyone  will  admit,  who  knew 
Tony,  that  he  succeeded  admirably  well.    He  goes  down  in 


230  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

history  of  the  Sodality  as  a  hero  in  his  generation  and  in  the 
Annals  of  the  parish  as  a  good,  faithful,  sincere  gentleman. 

In  1922  and  1923  Ray  Bredel  held  the  reigns  of  the  society 
as  successor  of  the  able  Tony  Kunza.  Every  attempt  was 
made  by  the  president  and  his  group  of  officers  to  almost 
force  initiative  of  the  members  into  action.  But  there  was  a 
certain  apathy  which  seems  could  not  be  overcome. 

The  latter  part  of  the  year,  December,  1923,  Reverend  F. 
L.  Kalvelage  received  his  appointment  to  St.  Boniface  Church 
to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  transfer  of  Father  Schmidt 
to  the  pastorate  of  Round  Lake.  The  new  curate  was  as- 
asigned  his  duty  of  advisor  of  the  young  men.  Within  six 
weeks  of  his  assignment  a  play,  "Cousin  Gene,"  was  rendered 
with  remarkable  success.  It  was  "pulled  off"  so  quickly  that 
many  of  the  boys  did  not  have  time  to  cooperate  in  the  under- 
taking. This  sort  of  leadership  was  misunderstood,  and  a 
faction  of  opposition  arose. 

For  practically  five  months  after  the  successful  entertain- 
ment every  suggestion  of  Father  Kalvelage  was  waylaid  and 
not  given  any  consideration.  Not  accustomed  to  such  con- 
duct, the  moderator,  Father  Kalvelage,  determined  upon  a 
course  of  action,  but  only  after  having  given  much  thought 
to  the  question  at  hand.  At  that  time,  the  daily  press 
heralded  the  close  of  soft  drink  parlors  which  had  violated 
the  federal  prohibition  act.  These  so  frequent  captions  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  Father  Kalvelage  until  he  thought 
well  to  close  the  club  room.  The  day  after  the  regular  meet 
ing  in  June,  1924,  saw  Father  Kalvelage  in  the  roll  of  law 
enforcer.  The  club  room  was  locked  and  sealed  and  a  little 
note  tacked  to  the  outside  of  the  door  bore  this  information: 
"Closed  indefinitely."    The  members  were  gathered  together 


ST.  RAPHAEL  YOUNG  MEN'S  SODALITY 


231 


quickly  in  protest  against  the  injunction.  But  to  no  avail, 
unless  they  would  consider  his  leadership  and  abide  by  his 
regulations.  Within  a  month  all  things  had  been  satisfac 
torily  arranged  and  the  society  was  again  functioning. 

Alex  Kahler,  a  youth  of  nineteen  summers,  was  the  prime 
mover  in  bringing  order  out  of  chaos.     He  deserves  great 


Alex  Kahler 


credit  for  the  gentlemanliness  in  which  all  things  were  con' 
ducted  to  friendly  settlement.  His  work  has  not  been  for' 
gotten.  Today  he  merits  the  highest  esteem  of  his  fellows. 
Alex  is  not  only  an  arbiter  of  disputes  but  a  real  hustler  when 
it  comes  to  the  disposition  of  tickets  for  social  events.  He 
never  aspired  to  office,  but  is  in  fact  a  great  leader. 


232  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

The  first  president  under  the  settlement  agreement  was 
Andrew  Kotlare.  During  his  administration  the  entire  club 
room  was  cleaned  and  painted.  The  single  shower  was  re' 
moved  from  its  place  in  the  comer  of  the  club  room  and  a 
special  room  designated  wherein  four  showers  and  a  wash' 
stand  were  erected. 

Stanley  Walkowiak  succeeded  Andrew  Kotlare  to  the 
presidency.  A  new  rule  had  become  effective  after  the  reor- 
ganization: "No  officer  could  succeed  himself."  And  so, 
Andrew  Kotlare  could  not  lead  the  organization  a  second 
year  although  he  had  accomplished  much  during  his  term  of 
office.  Stanley  Walkowiak  was  a  real  wide-awake  full-of- 
action  officer.  During  his  administration  the  club  room  was 
completely  renovated.  A  complete  meeting  outfit  was  in- 
stalled, an  archway  dividing  the  pool  and  amusement  room 
lrom  the  parlor.  All  tables  and  chairs  were  removed  and 
in  their  stead  settees  were  placed,  eight  sets.  At  the  close  of 
Stanley  Walkowiak's  administration  in  1925  the  financial  re- 
port from  the  time  of  the  organization,  July,  1924,  until  De- 
cember, 1925,  showed  an  expenditure  of  $2,417.85  on 
improvements. 

Joseph  Cetner  had  succeeded  Stanley  Walkowiak  to  the 
presidency.  He  at  once  set  out  to  renovate  the  church  base- 
ment and  install  therein  electric  lights.  The  forepart  of  the 
church  basement  was  always  partitioned  off  but  was  only 
used  as  a  storeroom.  Out  of  this  room  they  made  an  office. 
The  cement  was  covered  by  a  wooden  floor.  All  this  im- 
provement cost  was  met  by  the  Y.  M.  S.  treasury.  The 
office  furniture  excepted.  The  boys  interested  themselves  in 
the  boy  scouts  and  sponsored  the  scout  movement  in  the 
parish.  Thus  ends  a  chapter  of  youthful  accomplishment, 
but  accomplishment  nevertheless. 


THE  CHILDREN  OF  MARY 


herever  one  travels  one  will  meet  with  dan- 
ger signals.  Wise  people  profit  by  these  sig- 
nals to  keep  away  from  the  spots  so  marked. 
On  land  danger  signals  are  placed  near  un- 
safe bridges,  cave-ins,  ditches,  excavations 
for  building,  etc.  On  water  one  will  find 
danger  signals  in  shallow  waters,  where 
rocks  are  near  the  water  surface  and  along 
dangerous  cliffs.  Such  danger  signals  are  warning  to  keep 
away.  If  one  does  suffer  one  has  but  one's  self  to  blame.  The 
signal  is  there  and  it  is  visible  for  everyone.  This  embodies 
the  sole  purpose  of  the  Children  of  Mary.  The  organization 
is  bent  upon  giving  a  course  of  moral  education,  which  is  so 
necessary  for  right  living. 

The  Church  has  ever  had  for  her  object  the  giving  of  her 
best  blood  and  treasure  to  all  nations  and  open  the  door  of 
secular,  as  well  as  of  divine  knowledge,  to  mankind.  In  her 
generous  work  of  God  she  abandons  all  her  claims  to  the  grati- 
tude of  the  world  and  wipes  out  even  the  memory  of  all  she 
has  done  for  it.  The  Church  is  out  first  and  foremost  for  the 
doctrine  of  Christ.  Could  then  she  remain  unmindful  of  the 
little  ones,  when,  Christ  makes  His  love  for  these  so  clear: 
"Suffer  the  little  ones  to  come  unto  Me." 

What  a  grand  name  for  a  Sodality?  Children  of  Mary! 
Indeed  the  Church  has  always  taught  her  little  ones  to  pro- 
nounce with  becoming  affection  and  reverence  the  name  of 
the  Redeemer  of  the  World,  or  thac  of  Her,  upon  Whom  He 
conferred  the  inconceivable  dignity  of  being  His  human 


233 


234  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

mother,  "Our  tainted  nature's  solitary  boast."  To  be  en' 
rolled  as  Her  child  is  certainly  a  God  sent  favor  which  parents 
readily  realize  and  children  are  proud  of.  Besides  the  good 
moral  training  this  Sodality  tenders  its  members,  the  gener- 
ous spirit  of  cooperating  and  helping  to  satisfy  parish  needs 
has  been  very  much  pronounced.  They  have  donated  a 
stained  window  to  the  church  and  periodically  render  finan- 
cial assistance.  Their  more  recent  history  is  herewith  briefly 
recorded. 

In  1921  the  Children  of  Mary  presented  "The  May 
Queen/1  This  was  a  cantata.  All  worked  diligently  and 
with  the  aid  of  the  girls  of  the  school,  they  cleared  $290, 
which  were  given  toward  the  window  in  the  church. 

The  following  year,  1922,  "Patricia,"  a  drama,  was  given. 
In  this  play  Florence  Hart,  as  "Patricia"  and  Elizabeth  Le- 
grand  as  "Octavia"  did  exceedingly  well.  We  dare  not  for- 
get to  mention  that  Florence  Krause,  "Flavia,"  the  leader  of 
the  slaves,  could  not  have  been  outdone  by  any  other  player. 
The  proceeds  of  this  entertainment  were  used  in  helping  to 
pay  for  the  decoration  of  the  church. 

"The  Cost  of  a  Promise"  was  given  the  next  year.  Flor- 
ence Hart  again  had  a  prominent  part  for  she  was  "Kathleen" 
the  main  character.  Although  her  part  was  well  acted, 
"Granny  Gilligan"  (Helen  Stermer),  "Lucy  and  Alma" 
(Florence  Knippen  and  Teresa  Vignola),  "Loda  and  Zola" 
(Mary  Jacob  and  Adeline  Gewerth,  and  Alma's  mother 
(Helen  Kreyetzcki)  were  complimented  by  all.  "Topsy" 
(Catherine  Proszek)  the  darky,  took  the  prize.  At  this  en- 
tertainment we  realized  the  wonderful  sum  of  $657.  Our 
expenses  were  $100.  Four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  were 
given  for  electric  lights  in  the  school  and  $  1 00  were  kept  for 
the  new  banner. 


THE  CHILDREN  OF  MARY  2?5 

During  this  year  the  Sodality  was  separated  into  two  divi- 
sions, seniors  and  juniors.  The  girls  of  the  seventh,  eighth 
and  commercial  classes,  and  those  out  of  school  belonging  to 
the  seniors,  and  the  fifth  and  sixth  grade  girls,  to  the  Juniors. 

On  December  8th,  1923,  our  new  banner  was  blessed  and 
fifty  girls  were  received  into  the  Sodality  as  Juniors. 

In  February,  1924,  we  presented  "The  Blind  Princess,"  a 
drama  in  five  acts. 

The  "Blind  Princess"  (Florence  Knippen)  did  exception' 
ally  well  and  so  did  "Bernadette"  (Elizabeth  Proszek).  The 
other  characters  too,  did  their  utmost  to  make  it  a  success. 
There  were  two  performances  for  the  adults  and  two 
matinees,  one  for  the  children  of  our  school  and  another  for 
the  children  of  other  schools.  It  was  a  wonderful  success, 
for  we  realized  the  vast  sum  of  $715.  Of  this  $525  were 
given  to  our  Reverend  Pastor  to  be  used  for  repairs  in  school, 
$100  toward  the  College  Library  at  Joliet,  and  $80  expenses 
for  printing. 

In  1925  we  determined  to  raise  our  amount  to  $1,000. 
This  seemed  almost  impossible,  but  we  reached  our  standard 
and  even  cleared  more.  One  thousand  dollars  were  given  to 
the  church  treasury  and  $100  toward  the  scholarship. 

"The  Camp-Fire  Girls"  was  the  play  given  in  1925.  It 
was  well  attended  the  two  evenings  it  was  given.  And  the 
applause  of  the  people  gave  proof  that  one  and  all  enjoyed  it 
very  much  and  amply  rewarded  the  girls  for  their  hard  work. 

Just  recently  "Rebecca's  Triumph"  was  given  by  the 
Seniors.  It,  too,  was  well  attended  and  proved  a  grand  suc- 
cess. Rebecca  and  her  adopted  mother  (Helen  Mayer  and 
Angeline  Radakoviu),  Mrs.  Rokeman  (Adeline  Budych), 
and  Dora  (Frances  Huettel)  had  leading  parts  and  rendered 


2  36  THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH 

them  exceptionally  well,  so  that  some  of  the  older  members 
complimented  them  on  their  wonderful  success.  Crazy  Meg 
(Reineldis  Mathia)  deserves  praise  for  the  way  in  which  she 
rendered  her  difficult  part.  As  in  former  years,  so  too  this 
year,  the  proceeds  were  given  to  the  church  treasury. 

Besides  taking  care  of  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  girls,  the 
Sodality  gives  its  members  many  opportunities  for  social  en- 
joyments. Several  times  during  the  year  the  Sodality  gives 
Buncos  just  for  the  members,  at  other  times  they  have  par- 
ties, such  as  Installation  party,  May  and  Thanksgiving  par- 
ties, etc.  This  year  they  were  favored  with  a  special  treat. 
On  April  1 6th  two  busses  of  happy  Sodalists  left  the  school 
for  a  trip  to  Joliet,  there  to  enjoy  the  play  given  by  the  girls 
of  St.  Francis  Academy. 

At  the  opening  and  closing  procession  in  honor  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  during  the  month  of  May,  it  is  the  Sodalists 
who  have  the  honor  of  carrying  the  statue  of  Our  Blessed 
Mother. 

Every  third  Sunday  of  the  month  the  Sodalists  receive 
Holy  Communion  in  a  body  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day  assemble  to  recite  the  Office  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  and 
hold  their  monthly  meeting.  On  these  occasions  besides  the 
regular  business  meeting  a  surprise  social  is  frequently  given. 


OFFICERS,  1916 

Cecilia  Waskowski,  President 
Anna  Teschke,  Vice-President 
Barbara  Gewerth,  Secretary 
Elizabeth  Kriese,  Treasurer 
Jennie  Patteet,  Librarian 


THE  CHILDREN  OF  MARY  237 

OFFICERS,  1917 

Cecilia  Waskowski,  President 
Cecilia  Frey,  Vice-President 
Mabel  Krejci,  Secretary 
Elizabeth  Thulke,  Treasurer 

OFFICERS,  1921 

Florence  Hart,  President 
Catherine  Proszek,  Vice-President 
Florence  Knippen,  Secretary 
Elizabeth  Hart,  Treasurer 

OFFICERS,  1924 

Elizabeth  Gaffket,  President 
Helen  Kreyetzske,  Vice-President 
Lillian  Madden,  Secretary- 
Anna  Muffoletto,  Treasurer 

OFFICERS,  1925 

Lena  Legrand,  President 
Elizabeth  Proszek,  Vice-President 
Olive  Hart,  Secretary 
Mary  Jacob,  Treasurer 

OFFICERS,  1926 

Rose  Gewerth,  President 
Elizabeth  Proszek,  Vice-President 
Julia  Kosac,  Secretary 
Olive  Hart,  Treasurer 


Reverend  F.  L.  Kalvelage 
Present  Curate  at  St.  Boniface 


238 


St-  Boniface  Parish 

Diamond  Jubilee  Celebration 

and  Reunion  of  all  present 
and  former  parishioners 

on  Sunday,  June  6th,  1926 

at  St.  Boniface  Church 

Cornell  and  Noble  Streets 

Chicago 


239 


COMMITTEES 

Rev.  C.  A.  Rcmpe.  Pastor 
Rev.  F.  L.  Kalvelage,  General  Chairman 

SPEAKERS'  COMMITTEE 

Rev.  C.  A.  Rempe,  Chairman 

N.  A.  Schommer,  Toastmaster 

Christ  Manheim  John   Fensterle  Dr.  Carl  Venn 

ARRANGEMENT  COMMITTEE 

Rev.  F.  L.  Kalvelage.  Chairman 
Leo  Schueneman  Martin  Koop 


RECEPTION  COMMITTEE 


Anthony  Gabriel 
O.  P.  Jaeger 
And.  L.  Korthals 
Theo.  Kush 
John  Reisel 
Felix  Schommer 
George  Hochstetter 
Gus  Bart 
Ben  Fischer 


Rev.  Joseph  Gehrig,  Chairman 
John  Puetz 
Joseph  Skokna 
Charles  Kooh 
Joseph  Cetner 
Frank  Wiedel 
George  Stegmaier 
Mr.  John   Leschinski 
Al.  Barski 
Christ  Fiedler 


Peter  Meiser 
Anton  Kunza 
W.  H.  Nelles 
Leo  P.  Plantin 
James  Voss 
Alex  Kahler 
An  new  Kotlare 
Anthony  Schlieben 


PRINTING  COMMITTEE 

William  F.  Schmidt,  Chairman 
Frank  Welch  Theodore  Rozek 

PUBLICITY  COMMITTEE 

Anton   L.  Behrendt.  Chairman 
Dr.  Leo  Juhnke  John  Behrendt 


Miss  Lillian  Krueger 
Mrs.  M.  B.  Schwarz 
Miss  C.  Scholl 
Mrs.  F.  Marks 
Mrs.  A.  Fabritz 


AUXILIARY  COMMITTEE 

Miss  Rose  Kiessling,  Chairman 

Mrs.  F.  Knippen  Miss  Constance  Korthals 


Mrs.  Rose  Kuzvnski 
Miss  Florence  Krause 
Mrs.  B.  Fischer 
Mrs.  T.  Kotlenger 
240 


Miss  Marcella  Korthals 
Mrs.  E.  Shay 
Miss  Frances  Demes 
Mrs.  Dora  Hinterberger 


PROGRAM 

10  A.  M. 

Solemn  High  Mass 

Rev.  C.  A.  Rempe,  Celebrant  Rev.  Franeis  Cichozki,  Deacon 

Rev.  Arthur  F.  Terlecke,  Subdeacon 

Sermon  by  Rt.  Rev.  Monsignor  Rempe 

11A.M. 

Procession  and  Benediction  of  Blessed  Sacrament  in  Eckhardt  Park 
Rev.  John  P.  Suerth,  Celebrant 

12  Noon 
Banquet  in  School  Hall 

1  P.  M. 
Short  Talks  by  Former  and  Present  Priests  and  Parishioners 

3  P.  M. 

Vaudeville  Entertainment  by  Orpheum  Circuit  Talent 

4:30  P.  M. 
Dancing — Music  by  Van's  Orchestra 

6  P.  M. 
Buffet  Luncheon 

7  P.  M. 

Reception — Everybody  Invited 

8  to  12  P.  M. 

Dancing 

241 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

282  77311 K127A  C001 

THE  ANNALS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE  PARISH.  1862- 


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